An analyst suggests that Kedah Umno needs to identify a prominent leader, a "poster boy," to effectively challenge the popularity of PAS's Sanusi Nor, who is currently the menteri besar and a dominant figure in the state. This recommendation comes as Kedah Umno considers contesting the next state election independently, a move that Ilham Centre's Hisommudin Bakar believes is insufficient on its own. Bakar emphasizes the need for Umno to understand its past electoral failures, particularly its wipeout in the 2023 Kedah state election where Perikatan Nasional (PN) secured 33 seats and Sanusi began his second term. He stresses the importance of credible candidates and a strong state leader to regain Malay support, contrasting this with the current alliance with Pakatan Harapan (PH), which only secured three seats.