UMNO is political organizations of the Malays in Malaysia. All Malays are Muslim. When UMNO was established, during those days the Malays are generally less conscious about Islam. We can visualize the atmosphere of religious practices during those days by watching movies made during those times. Women in those days generally do not cover their heads, even women religious teachers are covering only parts of their head, and some of their hairs are still visible. Men are wearing shorts and very few of them are wearing caps to cover their heads. Religious consciousness during those days is limited only to those who study in the religious school. Those who study in the normal schools have very little consciousness about Islam. Many of those who study in the English medium school would like to think and behave like the Englishmen. During those days, very few people pray and among those who pray and go to the mosques are even fewer. Those who pray in the mosque are only the old folks and they only come to the mosque for magrib and isha prayer. Between Magrib and Isha there are no religious lecture and to occupied their times they often smoke cigarette and talks about worldly things.

Now the Malay is more religious conscious than they were before. The Malay paradigm has changed tremendously over the years. Many Malays who studied abroad comes back to Malaysia with more religious consciousness than they were before. In the olden days when Malay comes back from studying abroad, they will acts like Englishmen and usually they will come back with either an English wife or husband. The situations have change tremendously in the nineties. Some Malay professional becomes even more religious when compared with the Malays religious scholars. More women become religious conscious than ever before. Now we can see more Malay women wearing Islamic garments and more men are wearing Islamic dress. When compared with the days when Umno was established the Islamic consciousness of the Malays has greatly improved. If Umno want to be still relevant to the Malays in my opinion, the Umno must change to become Islamic. Umno must change from working only for the Malays to working for the Malays and other Muslims. Umno must works to represent the interest of the Malays and Muslims in Malaysia. Umno must come out from its image of only for the Malays to become an image for the Malays and Muslims.

When Umno only works for the Malays then Umno will not be able to attract the Professional Malays that have Islamic conscience to join Umno. Umno must change in order to continue to be relevant. All Malays and Muslim irrespective of race can join Umno. The membership of Umno must be open to all Malays and Muslim of all races .Umno cannot deny the undercurrent of the Islamic resurgent in the country. Islam is on the rise and Umno must move with it. When the Ansars of Medinah accept Muhammad, s.a.w they become glorious. When Umno accept Islam and accept the mission of Muhammad s.a.w then Allah will make the Malays glorious. We should bring the Malay slowly from working to elevate the Malay race to work hard to elevate Islam. Muhammad s.a.w has said that Arabs are no better than non-Arabs are and non-Arabs are no better than Arabs are and the best among you is those that have the highest taqwa. Who has more fear in Allah is the best among men and so we must give respect to people according to their taqwa. Allah has ordered us to values people according to their iman or faith and not on their race and Umno must change although the changes maybe slow but in the correct direction. UMNO must stand for United Malay and Muslim National Organization.

Prof Dr Nasoha Saabin
January 2010
Integrative Holistic Wellness Centre