KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 — Despair hung heavy in the air as Umno members celebrated its 72nd anniversary in a visibly crushed mood, likely still aching from the party’s humiliating defeat in Wednesday’s polls.
It was an unfamiliar feeling, as past celebrations were often grand and lively.
They were, after all, the nation’s most dominant political party, having ruled the country for over 60 years.
But then again, circumstances have certainly changed.
Tonight, Umno leaders and supporters convened to celebrate the party’s birth as the federal Opposition for the first time.
That explains the stiff ambience at tonight’s event, which saw a markedly smaller attendance.
The Tun Razak 3 hall where the dinner was held could accommodate 1,000 people comfortably, but was half empty.
At the front of the hall, a 10-foot make-shift stage carried the only sign that marked Umno’s birthday. The stage was seemingly prepared for party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to deliver a speech.
That moment never came.
Najib and other key leaders arrived at PWTC at 7pm to hold prayers before heading to the Tun Abdul Razak hall to dine alongside some 300 members at around 8.40pm.
Flanked by party vice-presidents Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, he arrived at the hall unannounced.
Attendees proceeded to dine unfazed, despite being made aware of the leaders’ presence by the large crowd of media personnel encircling them.
Najib led the Barisan Nasional coalition to its first ever electoral defeat at the May 9 polls to end a six decade rule.
BN won fewer than half the parliamentary seats, lost several states and collected just over 30 per cent of the popular vote, the lowest in its history.
Analysts believe it will be a matter of time before factions in Umno build pressure to force Najib's resignation, and it seemed the ball is already rolling.
Today, several Umno Youth leaders have called for the president to step down and make way for a younger leadership.
Najib has so far kept mum. At tonight's celebration, he left without speaking to supporters or the press.
As muted as Najib was, Umno's 72nd celebration ended pretty much on the same note.
