Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob is confident that the Malays will start supporting Umno again because the current Pakatan Harapan government does not have policies that can help the community.

The Harapan government instead practises several policies that are oppressive to the Malays, Ismail claimed in a discussion that was broadcast live on Umno Online last night.

"I hope that Malay youths who feel there is no longer a need for Article 153 in the Federal Constitution (on the special position of the Malays) will think maturely and rationally about what is happening in our country, politically.

"Article 153 is our right. It was the very basic rule agreed to by the multiracial leaders of our country, before the country achieved independence, with the condition that we don't oppress the other races. And this was proven as long as Umno served as the anchor of this country's administration," he said.

Ibrahim further "warned" about the other races starting to be in charge of the country's politics.

"How can the other races, who claim they are 'second class citizens' in the country, control the country's economy? Where in the world would second class citizens control an economy, and so forth? Now, they have started to control the politics as well.

"I don't mean to spook, but I hope the Malay youths will understand that our rights are ours alone, and we cannot compromise with anyone in this matter. We use our rights and don't seize that of others. We cannot be seen as racists just for standing up for our rights and using them without oppressing other races," Ismail said.

'Party that champions people's rights'

At the same time, Umno should also be seen as a party that champions the people's rights, especially that of the Malays, he added.

"We must change the negative perception (of the party) among the rakyat, first. To realise this, members at all levels of the party must work towards the goal."

Ismail urged the party leadership and grassroots to abide by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's directive, during the recent party general assembly, on the steps to take to regain the trust in the party.

"Now that the assembly is over, it is our duty to implement the steps lined up by the president, in order to get the Malays to support our party again.

"We must remember that the task to strengthen the party does not only lie in the president's hand but also at all levels of the party, from the divisions to the grassroots," he added.