politics
UMNO Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Malaysia’s King at Johor Palace
Umno leaders posed with Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar and Tunku Ismail Idris at the site of the party’s founding on 11 May 2026. The event signals the party’s push to defend its majorities in Johor and Melaka ahead of state polls later this year. Umno, which governed for six decades until its 2018 defeat, has been in partnership with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan coalition since 2022.
South China Morning PostAudio version
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Umno leaders posed with Malaysia’s king at the Johor palace on Monday as the party marked its 80th anniversary at the site where it was founded. The carefully staged event served as a reminder of the power Umno commanded for six decades and the influence its leaders now hope to reclaim. The celebration occurred on 11 May 2026.
Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, the current King of Malaysia, stood at the centre of the photograph alongside Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Idris and Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Umno led Malaysia from independence until its election defeat in 2018.
The party was thrown into the political wilderness that year after six decades in power, rejected by voters angered by rising living costs and allegations of widespread corruption.
Umno has been in a partnership with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan coalition since 2022. South China Morning Post reported that the party has slowly clawed back some ground with the country’s Malay-Muslim majority since entering that alliance.
Party leaders sought to project unity as they prepare to defend the party’s overwhelming majority in the southern states of Johor and Melaka. State polls in Johor and Melaka are expected in the second half of 2026. A national election is due by early 2028 at the latest.
Umno is preparing to defend its majorities in those states against a Malay nationalist opposition coalition that has been wracked by infighting. The move to celebrate the 80th anniversary in Johor was the clearest indication yet of the party’s ambition to recapture a vote base lost after the 2018 shock defeat, South China Morning Post reported.
