Umno must return to organisational politics instead of personality-based politics, to ensure it remains a strong movement in facing current challenges, Zambry said in a Facebook post in conjunction with the party’s 80th anniversary.

The party must redefine itself from that of a conventional political organisation into becoming an “architect of the future” and serve as a strategic bridge in driving the party’s struggle into a new era, Bernama quoted him as saying.

Umno must become a civilisational movement that shapes the nation’s direction, he said. Faced with an increasingly complex political landscape, the party must adopt a more inclusive approach grounded in unity and togetherness, rather than narrow racial sentiments and extreme hatred.

The establishment of the “Rumah Bangsa” initiative was not just a slogan, but a real platform for all parties to come together on the basis of justice, mutual respect and confidence in a shared future, he said.

“Ultimately, Umno needs to return to its original spirit as an islah movement, a reform movement based on Islamic values, the spirit of nationalism and patriotism, justice and humanity,” he said.

Umno cannot simply be a keeper of memory, but must have courage “to become a time-proof party, no longer one that seeks favours, but instead a party that builds capacity, creates opportunities, opens space and shapes a generation capable of standing confidently on the global stage”, said Zambry, who is a member of Umno’s Supreme Council.

He said the party must return to its core strength in managing crises and creating stability, particularly in addressing crises of meaning, trust and identity in the digital world. Umno must become a knowledge-based party that upholds a culture of critical thinking and positions educational institutions as strategic partners in national development.