Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="Munyaradzi Mafaro, post: 49421, member: 636"] UMNO party leaders say they will team up with other groups for the next big election. Secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki believes going it alone would be a terrible mistake. He thinks solo campaigns show bad attitude and stubborn pride from party chiefs. The political veteran pointed out that UMNO has always needed friends to win votes. Even during their strongest years, the party relied heavily on political partners. History shows UMNO first joined forces with MCA and MIC parties back in 1957. This early partnership became the Alliance Party and lasted until 1973. The group later grew into the much larger Barisan Nasional coalition that many Malaysians know today. Asyraf said smart politics means building bridges with other parties across the country. He noted that political teamwork has become the normal way to do business around the world. Research reveals that 89 different countries have created political coalitions recently. These partnerships help parties deal with changing voter demands and tough competition. Asyraf believes UMNO must stick with the Barisan Nasional brand for the upcoming general election. Top party leaders will meet soon to hammer out the details of their cooperation plan. The final decision about which groups to work with remains up in the air for future discussions. Last year, UMNO Youth leader Muhamad Akmal Saleh suggested the party might try going solo. His comments sparked debate about whether UMNO could survive without coalition partners. Asyraf clearly disagrees with that risky strategy for the next election cycle. [/QUOTE]

Name