Former Universiti Sains Malaysia lecturer Ahmad Atory Hussain said Umno’s top leadership is still suffering from a “confidence crisis”, adding that it was time to do away with leaders seen as problematic before it faces the 15th general election (GE15).

“Umno must rebrand and replace its problematic leaders. Or else, it will be difficult for it to succeed in GE15.

“Party members must unite for the short term and the top leadership must be reshuffled to ensure that only those with integrity sit on the Supreme Council,” he told FMT.

As Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob continues leading Putrajaya, he said the Umno vice-president needed to hold open discussions with other parties, including Perikatan Nasional (PN), to ensure that his administration remains stable.

“Ismail must hang in there and consult all PN component parties before making any big decision.

“He cannot make decisions on his own. He must always remember that Umno is not as dominant as before,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iskandar Tan Hassan Abdullah, of Universiti Teknologi Mara Kelantan, said Umno’s problem was that its veterans still wanted to dominate the leadership.

“This has resulted in Umno lacking leaders capable of balancing the influence between the veterans and the new generation of leaders,” he told FMT.

He added that the veterans cannot blame the generation that was currently leading the party.

In resigning as the chairman of Umno’s advisory council, Tengku Razaleigh said the “New Umno” established in 1988 was now seen as materialistic, greedy and having low morals.

Nonetheless, the Gua Musang MP stated that he was still loyal to Umno, which was established in 1946.