Pahang remains Umno’s stronghold – but perception, not performance, is the real threat, says Nizar

SHAH ALAM – Pahang stands as one of the last unshaken pillars of Umno’s political dominance in Malaysia, remaining under its leadership since independence in 1957.

Unlike many other states that have seen political shifts, Pahang Investment, Industries, Science, Technology and Innovation state exco Datuk Mohamad Nizar Najib said the state has consistently stayed loyal to Umno - a sign of the party’s enduring influence and legacy in the state.

“Today, Pahang and Sarawak are the only states that have retained the same ruling party since independence, and Pahang is the sole Umno-led state that has never changed hands since 1957,” he said during the Politics Meets Progress: Interview with Datuk Nizar Najib podcast by Sinar Daily recently.

Nizar, who is also the eldest son of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said the state’s political consistency was also marked by its history of producing three prime ministers - further proving Pahang’s role as a resilient political bastion for Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno.

The premiers being Tun Abdul Razak and Najib, both Pekan MPs, and the most recent Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Bera MP.

However, he acknowledged that even long-standing dominance can be vulnerable if public sentiment changes.

Nizar during Sinar Daily's "Politics Meets Progress: Interview with Datuk Nizar Najib" podcast. Photo by ROSLI TALIB

“We have to be prepared. If the rakyat want change, we must do everything we can to defend our position,” he said.

Still, Nizar firmly believes there was no valid reason to remove the current administration, citing the strong leadership of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and the state government’s performance.

“It would be different if we were neglecting our duties, but we’re working hard to develop the state,” he said.

Nizar admitted that the real challenge lies not in governance, but in the battle between perception and reality.

“Sometimes perception outweighs performance. We’ve increased state revenue and redistributed it through programmes like Bantuan Prihatin Pahang, helping fishermen, farmers, the B40 group, and students.

“Yet, some portray themselves as being more Islamic and claim they deserve to govern. But leadership requires concrete plans, not just rhetoric,” he said, giving a jab to long-time state rival, the Islamic party Pas.

He stressed that Umno has not sidelined Islamic values, highlighting initiatives such as the construction of 37 mosques and laws targeting deviant teachings in the state.

“There’s no justification for change but we must control the narrative and manage perception - not to cling to power, but to continue serving the people,” he said.