Right move for Umno to retain 'dacing' in polls - analysts

Political analysts view Umno’s decision to retain BN’s iconic “dacing” (scale) symbol for the 16th general election as a masterstroke of strategic foresight.

They argue that this choice is a calculated manoeuvre designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia while reinforcing the party’s image of stability and trustworthiness.

Mazlan Che Soh, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Administrative Science and Policy Studies from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), described Umno’s decision as strategic and well-considered.

“By using the BN logo or ‘dacing’, which has long been synonymous with Umno, the party can maintain its loyal voter base and staunch supporters.

“This move reassures Umno supporters that the party remains committed to the emblem they have long identified with,” he told Malaysiakini.

Mazlan further emphasised that after the party’s defeat in the last general election, Umno must rebuild its standing, especially among Malay voters and the younger generation.

Previously, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi agreed with the leadership and grassroots members who felt the party should continue using the BN symbol.

However, Zahid, who also serves as BN chairperson, stressed that Umno will continue collaborating with all 18 parties currently part of the federal government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's leadership.

Mazlan said that Umno’s decision to retain the BN logo underscores the party’s consistency and steadfastness.

“In today’s political context, this is a crucial move. I see Umno’s strategy as a return to its political roots, hoping that the Nenggiri win would validate this decision and demonstrate it’s the right course of action,” he added.

Echoing a similar sentiment, Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) dean of Ghazali Shafie Graduate School of Government, Rusdi Omar, argues that Umno does not need to adopt a new logo for GE16 as the BN symbol remains relevant.

He pointed out that despite Umno’s collaboration with other parties in the government, the coalition does not need to share a common logo for the election.

Rusdi argues that the BN symbol has been deeply ingrained in the public consciousness for a long time and switching to a new logo would be risky and time-consuming to establish.

“The critical issue is not the logo but whether Umno’s leaders are united. If they stand together, everything will fall into place.

“Similarly, when working with Pakatan Harapan, strong cooperation and unity is essential, along with clear and effective communication with the public,” Rusdi explained.

No ‘cah keting’ in Nenggiri

Rusdi emphasised that Umno has the potential to become a formidable party if unity is achieved across all levels of its leadership and grassroots.

“The victory in Nenggiri is a prime example of what can be accomplished through hard work without internal sabotage.

“There were no signs of ‘cah keting’ (internal sabotage), a problem that has long troubled the party, particularly in the east coast states,” he noted.

Similarly, Zaharul Abdullah, a political science lecturer at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), praised Umno’s decision, calling it wise and strategic.

He believes that Umno, as the “grand old party”, is deeply embedded in Malaysian voters’ consciousness.

“In rural and Malay-majority constituencies, Umno continues to command significant support and remains a strong competitor.

“Additionally, this decision signals that Umno is capable of maintaining its power and autonomy within the BN-Harapan coalition.

“This is crucial to demonstrate that Umno’s commitment to Malay-Muslim interests remains unwavering,” he said.

Zaharul further pointed out that the decision reflects growing confidence and momentum within Umno’s leadership, buoyed by the improving performance of the Madani government and the positive outcome in the Nenggiri by-election.

“This by-election has boosted Umno’s morale as it successfully shifted the status quo for the first time since GE15. This has been framed as a narrative of the return of Malay votes to Umno,” he added.

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