New: UMNO risks losing voter trust now over sakau, rasuah claims ahead of GE16

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 8, 2026 – UMNO could struggle to maintain public confidence ahead of the 16th General Election (GE16) if it continues to face allegations linked to corruption and “sakau” practices, a lawyer said.

Advocate and solicitor Dr Zulqarnain Lukman said Malaysia’s democratic landscape is increasingly shaped by rapidly changing voter sentiment, making political parties vulnerable to current issues.

He said UMNO remains closely associated with corruption-related narratives due to its long period in government, which critics argue provided opportunities for some leaders and members to abuse their positions.

Sakau and sakau

“Public confidence in UMNO improved after it became part of the Unity Government, as reflected in its performance in the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections,” he said.

However, he noted that any move by UMNO to contest independently or align with Perikatan Nasional (PN) could alienate Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters.

Zulqarnain added that issues involving Tabung Haji, FELDA, 1MDB and UiTM could continue to weigh on the party’s image.

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Special Note

• Najib Razak: Former Prime Minister and UMNO leader convicted in the 1MDB/SRC International scandal, originally sentenced to prison (with his sentence later halved and moved to conditional house arrest until August 2028).
• Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad: Former Felda chairman and senior UMNO leader convicted of corruption counts regarding a hotel purchase, sentenced to six years in prison.
• Rosmah Mansor: Wife of former PM Najib Razak and prominent figure associated with UMNO leadership, convicted on corruption charges linked to a solar hybrid project.

(Note: Other high-profile UMNO leaders such as party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, and Jamil Khir Baharom have faced or are currently facing active court trials, charges, or remands rather than serving final prison sentences).

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Keywords: UMNO, corruption, GE16, voter sentiment, Malaysian politics