Barisan Nasional, led by UMNO, was the premier coalition of choice that developed Malaysia to the level of modernity we enjoy today.

Their formula of finding consensus among the political leadership of the three major ethnic groups in Malaysia, each with their own unique culture and religious beliefs, has proven effective in maintaining peace and progress for the longest time.

Over time, cracks started to show within the coalition when they began losing Chinese votes in the late 1960s to Gerakan (before it joined BN) and mid-2000s early internet era to DAP.

UMNO, as the de facto leader of the Barisan Nasional coalition, has failed to understand the Chinese psyche.

There is a reason why the authoritarian communism is the go to governance system in China and why business networks and gangster clans are prevalent in their culture.

The Chinese are primarily moved by fear and greed.

UMNO approached the Chinese community the same way they approached the Malays, through love and kindness, that was their mistake.

UMNO’s naivety gave room for DAP to exploit this and pull Chinese voters away from them, and later scandals like 1MDB sealed the deal.

If BN or any other coalition is sincere in wanting to return to power and govern Malaysia as a whole, aside from taking a firm stance against corruption, they will need to deeply reflect on what makes the other major ethnic communities tick and what motivates them.

Hopefully, we will emerge from this current predicament stronger and more unified as a nation.

JAUHARI JOHAR
23rd August 2025