Umno leaders should admit that the party is in crisis and could lose the next general election if no action is taken to rejuvenate the Malay party, said its Cheras division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee.

He added if the crisis in confidence was not addressed, and the top leadership kept fighting with each other, Umno would undergo a critical loss of Malay support.

"The reality is Umno is no longer in a comfortable place. We need to do something to strengthen the party including demanding sincerity and responsibility from leaders at all levels.

"We admit that Umno is now is a tough situation, and is facing various pressures and threats. That is why leaders have to be responsible and honest in finding solutions," he wrote in a blog posting today.

Although not specifically mentioned, Syed Ali was probably referring to various issues stemming from the 1MDB fiasco and the current economic crisis, that current and previous leaders have focused on.

Earlier today, former premier and Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad linked arms with onetime rival Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, to condemn the use of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) against 1MDB critic Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang.

Abuse of power

They also issued a statement with Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal, former Kedah menteri besar Sanusi Junid and former MCA presidents Ong Tee Keat and Dr Ling Liong Sik. The statement, among others, brought up the issue of abuse of power by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Syed Ali called for the top leadership to get back together and return to the party's basic struggle, to better the lot of the Malay people.

He once again warned that if Umno lost power, it would be the Malays who would bear the brunt.

"The top leaders also have to go meet the people, and clear the confusion regarding the issues that have sparked the people's distrust," he said.

Syed Ali warned that Umno's weaknesses were fabricated and spread through social media which was used by the Opposition to take advantage of the situation.

"The social media is controlled by the Opposition which is always taking any advantage to attack Umno so that people will hate the government and its leaders," he said.