UMNO drowns in shallow pool due to loss of ability, not because not knowing to swim - Annuar

He said that Shamsul Amri's post sparked various reactions among UMNO members.

"In the Whatsapp group of UMNO leaders, there are those who are angry and in denial, but many who are big-hearted accept the criticism of the Chairman of the National Council of Professors.

"I find it true. I feel UMNO needs to listen, otherwise UMNO will drift further.

"Many are still lulled by old dreams when the people have changed a lot. Many are still comfortable in the old cocoon while other parties have re-engineered their respective parties," he said in a Facebook post here, on Thursday.

Annuar, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ketereh, said the party's defeat in the 14th General Election (GE-14) did not seem to provide any lesson, instead any reprimand was considered a defection and the person who made it should be removed.

"However, I feel it is not too late to raise awareness in UMNO. In fact, there is a new wave of awareness that can grow.

"What is needed is courage and sincerity in the struggle. Yes, drowning in a shallow pool due to loss of ability or falling asleep in the pool, not lacking in swimming skills. Restore ability, wake up from a long sleep," he added.

Earlier, in an opinion column published by Sinar Harian, Shamsul Amri said UMNO is likened to a party that drowned in a shallow pool and is still struggling to find its way after losing in GE-14.

Having lost power, he said, the entire UMNO organisation began to disintegrate from top to bottom, like the “latah” (person with a startle disorder) who was startled to take off his clothes one by one.