Following its unprecedented defeat in the 14th general election after six decades in power, Umno has been struggling to adapt to its new role as the opposition.

In view of this, Umno's acting president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the party must change its DNA.

He noted how when BN held federal power, Umno had lacked the “opposition DNA” in states where it was the opposition.

"I see that the Umno and BN DNA is not an opposition DNA even though there were states where Umno was the opposition.

"At the federal government, Umno used to be in the government. Now our DNA must be changed.

"Our thinking, action, and activities must be like the opposition except in Pahang and Perlis (where BN won)," he told a press conference in Kota Bharu today.

Zahid stressed that Umno and BN parliamentarians must act like the opposition, but reminded them not to do so in a destructive manner.

He said their opposition activities must be constructive in nature in the interest of strengthening Islam, Malays and the royal institution.

Zahid is among seven candidates vying for the president's post in the upcoming Umno elections.

Others in the race include party veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and current Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.