Santiago, a DAP member, told FMT he believed young and new leaders should be allowed to run Umno and develop a narrative that would represent young Malays.

He said this could help Umno strengthen its ties with DAP.

Santiago claimed that older leaders such as party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi could not inspire trust among the Malays.

“One reason Umno did badly in the general election was alleged corruption involving Zahid,” he said.

Zahid is facing several graft charges.

Umno won only 26 of the 120 seats it vied for in last November’s elections.

Santiago said he doubted that the older generation of Umno leaders would want a rebranding of the party.

Some of them believed it was their birthright to govern the nation, he claimed.

He also spoke of the recent failed attempt by Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin to unseat Hajiji Noor as chief minister and destabilise the state government.

This led to questions about Umno’s sincerity in its new-found alliance with DAP, he said.

“We must remember that Umno was rejected by Malays,” he said. “Now it feels its only chance of survival is to be with Pakatan Harapan.”

Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi has said the party must learn to manage its differences with others in the unity government which were its “natural enemies” in the past.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng, also of DAP, told FMT he believed the major differences between Umno and DAP could be dealt with if the basic principles of democracy, fairness and anti-corruption could be upheld.

“But this is easier said than done,” he said.