KUALA LUMPUR: Umno must realise that it is no longer a dominant party in the country, said party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the party must win the seats allocated for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the six state elections.
"Umno members have been given the mandate earlier (during the president's briefing) on several aspects of the current (political) situation, where the country is facing a new political era.
"We must realise that we are part of the unity government and that we are no longer a dominant one (party).
"Hence, we need to give our best and win the seats given to BN in the upcoming elections," he told reporters after the launch of the Skuad Sayang Award by Umno Wanita at the World Trade Centre today.
Zahid added that it would not mean anything to just feel "strong" if the party failed to gain significant support.
He said the party must move forward and find a common ground with other component parties in the unity government in facing the state polls.
"We need to remember that we only received 22 per cent of the votes during the last general election (GE15) and the seats won were about 11 per cent.
"We lost twice, both in GE14 and GE15. We need to fix our weaknesses (in facing the state elections)."