If Umno truly wants to change, it needs to make way for more youths to step into leadership positions, said the Overseas Umno Club Alumni Association.

“Do not live in a fantasy land any more. Only young leaders can restore the public’s trust in the biggest Malay party in our country.

“Umno Youth central leaders, as well as those in the divisions, need to be braver in offering themselves for important posts in the party.

“Positions in the youth wing should be given to those below 40 years old. Those who are above 40 years old, please go for higher positions,” the association’s president Wan Agyl Wan Hassan said in a statement today.

He pointed out that half of all eligible voters in Malaysia were considered youths between the ages of 21 and 39 years old, so it should be youths who charted the course of the country.

Pakatan Harapan, he said, fielded many young candidates in the recent 14th general election (GE14) such as Bersatu’s 25-year-old Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman (below) in Muar and 22-year-old P Prabakaran who was an independent candidate in Batu endorsed by PKR.

While Umno also had some young candidates, Wan Agyl said the party preferred to field older candidates.

“Umno never changed. While Harapan placed many young candidates, Umno was more conservative and preferred to put "otai" (veteran) candidates rather than youths to represent the party.

“We’re not denying there were some young candidates (from Umno), just not that many,” he said.

'End of their life'

However, Wan Agyl said, although Harapan spoke a lot about involving more youths in decision-making, this appeared to be mere rhetoric.

“It has been almost a month since the new government was formed, but there still aren’t any youths holding important positions in the government.

“All they have is a ‘Council of Eminent Persons’ which consists of senior citizens at the end of their life,” he said.

Umno's party polls are expected to take place on June 23.

The three contenders so far for the Umno Youth chief position are Paya Besar MP Mohd Shahar Abdullah, former deputy minister and senator Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and incumbent deputy Youth chief Khairul Azwan Harun.

The latter two contenders are both in their early forties.