KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) is unable to replace Umno as the main voice of Malays and Bumiputeras in the country.
This was despite Umno not leading the government, said Umno information chief, Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
He said though some leaders from Umno had quit the party, it does not mean that Malay/Bumiputera based party was paralysed.
This as the migration of certain party leaders to Bersatu was not accompanied by a large number of party members, he said.
He said Umno could easily replace leaders who had left the party with better, energetic and enthusiastic young leaders.
"In fact, losing them did not cause Umno to be disbanded. When they quit the party, they were easily replaced by better, energetic and enthusiastic young leaders in the party.
"This has in fact ensured that transfer of power to new generation within the party had taken place naturally and it also saw cleansing within the party," he said.
"The migration of some Umno leaders and members did not see Umno's ideology, philosophy and principles being undermined as well.
"Umno will continue to be a party that strives to defend the interests of the Malays and Bumiputera, as well as preserving the interests of other races as enshrined in the Federal Constitution," he said in a statement today.
Shamsul said Umno which has a systematic administration and leadership composed of branches, divisions as well as at state and federal level, is much more better organised than Bersatu.
"There is a vast difference (when compared to Bersatu) where we have not heard off neither branch not division meetings being held, it is only held at the central level," said the Lenggong MP
Shamsul also said that Pas should not be unduly worried of developments which is taking place in Umno.
He said what is taking place in Umno is similar to what had place in the Islamic party, when a number of its leaders left it to form Parti Amanah Negara (PAN).
"Despite the existence of PAN, Pas remains strong, even though some Umno representatives left this party, we are confident Umno function as usual.
"Umno will continue to play its role based on the ideology it holds, in fact will continue to champion the rights of the people and will ensure that we will wrest back the seats we had lost," he said.