Malaysia's historic Malay nationalist party, Umno, celebrated its 80th anniversary, staging a display of political power to assert its influence. The party, which led Malaysia for six decades, aims to reclaim its former prominence.

In the Johor palace where Malaysia’s once-dominant ruling party was born, Umno’s leaders posed on Monday with the country’s king in a carefully staged reminder of the power they commanded for six decades – and the influence they now hope to reclaim. The United Malays National Organisation (Umno), the Malay nationalist party that led Malaysia from independence until its shock election defeat eight years ago, marked its 80th anniversary in its birthplace with a grand show of unity as it sought to....