KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 2026 — UMNO must adopt an inclusive political approach that does not offend any community, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, if it wants to work with other parties heading into the next election, deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said.
He said the party must never assume that its voters consist only of Malays, to the point that its actions and conduct cause unease among non-Malays and among the people of Sabah and Sarawak.
“Our actions and conduct must never cause concern among non-Malays and our friends in Sabah and Sarawak.
“Many non-Malays, as well as our friends in Sabah and Sarawak, are concerned about where Malaysia is heading when Malay-Muslim politics becomes the dominant force,” he said in his speech at the simultaneous opening of the general assemblies of UMNO’s Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings here tonight.
Mohamad, who is also Foreign Minister, said the support of non-Malays and of political parties in Sabah and Sarawak was crucial to the formation of a government, as these groups now hold the deciding power in the country’s political landscape.
He said UMNO would remain a centrist and moderate party and would not lean to the left or the right.
“Therefore, anyone who wants to work with UMNO must accept its moderate and centrist position. You cannot impose your conservative or radical ideology on UMNO,” he said.
Mohamad also called for a revival of “courteous politics” to counter toxic politics, which he said was one reason the younger generation was turning away from the political arena.
National politics, he said, was now rife with insults, abuse and offensive remarks, while Malay and Islamic sentiments were being used indiscriminately and without due consideration.
“This country greatly misses the courteous politics of the past generation. Criticism was voiced with care, admonishment was delivered with wisdom, and differences were managed with civility,” he said.
He pointed to Sarawak’s orderly and mature political culture — managing differences through discussion and courtesy — as a model.
“Sometimes we forget that Sarawak is a political model that truly reflects Malaysia’s diverse ‘fabric’. There is much we can learn from Sarawak’s political culture and how it avoids the toxic and distasteful politics,” he said.
The 2026 UMNO General Assembly is being held from Sept 9 to 12 at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur. The three wings’ assemblies will be held tomorrow, involving 1,163 Wanita delegates, 1,171 Youth delegates and 1,145 Puteri delegates.
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