Umno’s fall from being the leader of a BN-led government to its new role as one of 19 parties in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Madani administration raised questions about the party’s survival.

Having been reduced to only 26 Parliament seats in the 15th general election last year, it was clear the party had lost a significant number of its core supporters.

What is less clear, including to party members, is how Umno can stand its ground with new allies, particularly former archrivals, the DAP, which they had previously accused of harbouring an “anti-Malay” agenda - especially in the upcoming six state elections...