RESTORING Umno to its former power for future generations is not an immediate task and could require two to three more general elections, says its vice-president, Johari Ghani.

In his winding-up speech at the 2024 Umno general assembly here today, Johari said the process begins with the current leadership and members.

And, God willing, I am confident and I believe we can achieve this if all of us are sincere and dedicated to the cause of reviving Umno, he said.

Johari also said restoring Umno’s dominance requires stopping all internal fighting, and shared responsibility among party leaders, not just party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

It must be shared by all 191 division leaders, over 22,000 branch leaders, and all the leaders on this stage here, he said.

In his opening speech at the party’s general assembly yesterday, Zahid urged party leaders and members to leave their echo chambers and face the reality that the party is not as dominant as it once used to be.

He said Umno must dare to take on new ideas and perspectives to maintain its relevance in the political landscape, which he described as becoming more complex.

Umno suffered its worst electoral defeat in history in the 2022 general election when it won only 26 parliamentary seats, down from 54 four years earlier. It also struggled in last year’s state elections, winning only 19 of the 108 seats it contested.

In his winding-up speech, Johari also said that Umno should not rest on its laurels just because of its past successes and history.