Former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam shrewdly diagnosed the multiple deadly diseases afflicting the ailing Umno when he talked to the press after launching a forum on Oct 22. He said the party is "too introverted", its leaders pre-occupied with self-interests and oblivious to the interests of the masses.

He also said the party is incapable of rectifying fundamental flaws such as corruption, poor accountability and abuse of power. As a result, the party has lost popular support.