The Umno annual general assembly next week is the best chance for the ruling party to show that it has changed so as to win over the fencesitters, said supreme council member Saifuddin Abdullah.

Saifuddin, who is also deputy minister in higher education, said that this is important as the fence-sitters or “middle-ground group (golongan pertengahan)” could determine the outcome of the next polls.

Citing research by Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections, he said that the “middle-ground group” make up 30 percent of the electorate - “the largest percentage in election history”.

“Although many of the remaining 70 percent are expected to vote BN, this still does not make up half of the electorate.

“This means the (middle-ground group) will play an important role - that is to determine the outcome of the 13 th general election in both seats won and popular vote,” he said.

Hopes for democracy still unfulfilled

He said that while this group is concerned over “development” issues such as infrastructure and education, it is also increasingly aware of more nuanced matters like the issue of rights.

These issues include freedoms of speech and media, human rights, social justice, environmental sustainability, youth empowerment and good governance, he said.

“So Umno must change. We have an excellent record of fulfilling hopes for development, but the 12 th general election shows we have not yet fulfilled hopes for democracy,” he said.

“(Prime Minister and Umno president) Najib (Abdul Razak) has started a political transformation but outsiders still think Umno hasn't changed, so this assembly is the best platform to show that we really have.”