Umno will become a failed party in the next 10 to 15 years if it veers too much "to the right", warned former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.
In a series of tweets, the Rembau MP said taking the middle path is the only way the party can continue to survive, although it sounds "difficult" and cannot be easily understood by the grassroots.
"Umno is now at a junction, to choose whether to go right or in the middle. Going right may mean temporary cheers, but 10-15 years, there would be a definite failure. The middle path is not easy; the grassroots would not understand it. But that is the only way to survive.
"If our capital to win GE15 is mongering fear among the Malays on issues like the appointment of a non-Muslim AG (attorney-general), chief justice etc, we can forget about recapturing Putrajaya. The Malays are indeed restless, but these issues are small compared to social and economic issues," he wrote.
Khairy said he believes that Umno still has in its DNA, a moderate, middle stance that embraces diversity.
"That is why I'm still with Umno. But I do not agree with the racist manifestation following the party's recent election."
Khairy then went on to lambast Umno's conduct, following the party election, where he contested the presidency but lost to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
"After the conclusion of the Umno election, what did my party do? Play up racial sentiments, start a fund for its former president (Najib Abdul Razak), and repeat.
"There's nothing wrong in being in solidarity with Najib but is that all 'Umno Baru' is about? Served with a deadly blow in GE14, but still deaf to the people's voice," he said.
According to Khairy, he did not take up any position in the party, following his loss in the presidential race, as he wanted the freedom to voice out in the party.
"Let there be multiple voices in Umno. Some call me liberal; it doesn't matter. What matters is there are dissenting voices against the party's lean to the right."
Responding to a question whether his vocal stance means he was ready to jump parties, Khairy dismissed the idea.
"I'm not jumping anywhere. I will be with Umno. It's just that I want to make my house right so that it does not forever have a right-leaning, extreme, and racist facade. You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
