00:00UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who has been appointed a minister in charge of overseeing Felda affairs,
00:07must quickly deliver tangible results to win back settlers' support for the party, an analyst says.
00:14Awang Azman Pawi of University Malaya said the sharp decline in support for UMNO Barisan Nacional
00:20was not driven by the strength of Perikatan National or a shift in voters' ideology,
00:25but rather widespread disappointment.
00:27He said the disillusionment stem from economic pressures such as the rising cost of living
00:33as well as the perception that UMNO had become too elitist and disconnected from the realities of settlers' lives.
00:40He said if Zahid can deliver immediate felt outcomes and rebuild grassroots trust,
00:46BN still has a chance to reclaim Felda's seats.
00:49At UMNO's recent General Assembly,
00:52Zahid announced he had been tasked with overseeing Felda and FGV Holdings Berhad
00:58with Supreme Council Member Ahmad Maslan as his deputy.
01:02After the 15th general election,
01:04Persatuan Anak Penaroka Felda Kebangsaan released a report showing that
01:08PN had breached BN's stronghold in Felda areas.
01:12Azmi Hassan of Academy Nusantara said support for BN in Felda areas did not disappear overnight,
01:18which shifted as BN's rivals strengthened their ground operations,
01:23particularly after the 14th general election.
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