‘Don’t panic’: Puad tells Umno members amid electoral setback

Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi urged party members to not “panic” despite the disappointing outcome of the state elections, which saw the party securing only 19 out of 108 contested seats.

Acknowledging Umno’s diminishing support among Malays, he noted that the party’s journey to regaining acceptance from the people remains a gradual and winding path.

“It’s not easy for Umno to find a new formula but we shouldn’t panic to the point where we feel like we need to leave the coalition government.

“(We must) focus on the economic agenda of the people and the country,” he said on Facebook today.

He also offered advice to veteran party leaders who got rejected by the people - step down.

Puad emphasised that party positions shouldn’t guarantee an election candidacy; rather, Umno leadership should present candidates capable of putting up a strong fight.

The Johor state assembly speaker further urged Umno ministers to save the party, stating that it needs a new narrative to present to the public.

“The Umno ministers must deliver. (They must) ensure people are no longer disgusted with Umno,” he said.

The six state elections yesterday granted Umno a mere 19 state assembly seats across Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang, and Kelantan.

Umno recorded the worst performance by failing to capture or retain any seats it contested in Terengganu and Kedah.

However, it succeeded in securing 14 seats in Negeri Sembilan, and two seats each in Penang, and Selangor. In Kelantan, the party only won the Galas seat.

However, the Pakatan Harapan-BN collaboration managed to defend three states - Selangor, Penang, and Negeri Sembilan.

Despite their success, Harapan-BN failed to retain its two-thirds majority in Selangor.

Harapan snoozed through countless wake-up calls, says C4 Center

Negeri Sembilan MB swearing in tomorrow - Harapan or Umno?

Anwar did good but Zahid responsible for BN’s losses in polls - PKR MP

Loke: Harapan-BN cooperation helped DAP attract Malay voters

Calls for reform in Umno ring out after state polls drubbing