Kuala lumpur: UMNO must offer a new agenda and stop relying solely on historical narratives in facing the 16th general election (GE16), said deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. He emphasized the urgent need for the party to develop a clear roadmap over the next 24 months to maintain relevance and voter confidence.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohamad highlighted that a 25-year-old youth working for Grab or Foodpanda is more concerned with future prospects than UMNO's achievements 40 years ago. Such voters base their decisions on hope for the future, questioning if their salary suffices and whether they can afford housing. He stressed the need for UMNO to propose solutions on wages, careers, and plans for the gig economy.

Addressing the current voting landscape, Mohamad noted that about 50 percent of voters are young people aged between 18 and 35 who did not experience Barisan Nasional's (BN) peak years. He stated that relying solely on Malay nationalism is insufficient for securing voter support in the evolving political landscape.

Mohamad also encouraged UMNO to expedite comprehensive digitalisation efforts, suggesting the possibility of UMNO transforming into a digital party, such as UMNO Digital or e-UMNO, to operate effectively online.

The UMNO General Assembly 2025 is being held from January 14 to 17 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), following two postponements in August and November last year due to preparations for the 17th Sabah state election. The assembly gathers 6,412 delegates nationwide, with representatives from the UMNO General Assembly, Wanita UMNO, UMNO Youth, and Puteri UMNO.