The Malay-language daily asked if the party had learned any valuable lessons as the opposition in the past six months since the 14th general election.

It questioned whether the party was not motivated because of the lack of “incentives” or bribes.

“Is there still an ‘incentive’ to encourage members to mobilise the party’s operations and revive Umno?

“When the money pocketed is exhausted, then is that the end of the struggle? When the money pocketed is all but spent, do the values and struggles for race, religion and country also end?” asked Utusan news editor Zulkifli Jalil in an article titled “Umno… carilah yang elok, kedua bijak”.

Previously, Utusan, in its editorial, accused former prime minister Najib Razak of lying to members over the source of some RM2.6 billion he received in his bank account.

The newspaper urged Najib, who is also former Umno president, to apologise to all party members.

Two days ago, its assistant editor-in-chief I Mohd Zaini Hassan admitted in his column that the Malay-language newspaper had made a mistake all this while and should stop being the eyes and ears of the party and become the voice of the people.

Today’s article said the party must stop money politics for the sake of its future.

“Forget money politics. Money has become ‘do it’ in the past. That is if the party is committed to go through a tough challenge in the next four years and four months.

“Don’t be stuck in the old ways. Learn the lessons from the May 9 polls,” it said.

The article also questioned if the party’s strength lies only on “incentives” or bribery and not because of its leadership.