18/01/2026

NATIONAL 3 theSun on Sunday JAN 18, 2026

You can count on Umno and Barisan, Zahid tells Anwar

unwavering support enjoyed by Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. Despite voices calling for Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) to withdraw from the Madani government, Ahmad Zahid succeeded, with his trademark composure, in further uniting BN during his presidential address. He even persuaded MIC and MCA to remain loyal partners within the coalition that has stood for more than five decades. Immediately after his speech, MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said MCA would remain firm in BN. Calls for Umno to revive cooperation with PAS were noticeably absent during the assembly. Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr ‘Party yet to decide on election cooperation with PH’ KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has yet to decide whether it will cooperate with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the upcoming elections although it will continue its cooperation within the Madani government. According to Umno Secretary General Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, this approach is to ensure political stability in the country and to make sure that the people benefit from stability. “If we look at economic indicators, investments and investor confidence, all show positive signs. What is the foundation of all this? The foundation is political stability. “Umno, as a party with long experience in governance, will certainly consider our responsibility to the people,” he said after visiting media outlets at the 2025 Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur yesterday. Asyraf said if Umno were to make political decisions without considering the interests of the people, the party would surely be punished for creating an uncomfortable and unstable situation. He said Umno’s decision to postpone party elections was to prioritise internal strengthening. “That is what was decided by all delegates and members. Our focus is elections first, whether the Malacca and Johor state elections, which may take place this year, or the general election.” On Friday, Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that Umno elections would only be held after the 16th general election. – By IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

‘Support of party and coalition for Madani govt decisive and driven by sincerity, without hidden agenda’

president Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz bluntly suggested that Umno might as well dissolve its divisions in Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis. The Padang Rengas Umno division chief said working with PAS under the Muafakat Nasional banner would only further marginalise the party, as Umno currently holds no seats in several states within the so-called SG4 bloc. “Politics is about power and right now, we have power. It is ridiculous for us to leave just because of pressure. If we leave now, maybe next month PAS would enter the government. What’s the point then?” In a move that further cements Ahmad Zahid’s position as party leader, as well as Umno and BN’s position in the Madani government, the party postponed elections until after the 16th general election. – By IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE parties wished to be genuine partners, they must treat one another as true friends. He echoed views by Umno leaders that the party should not fear DAP, questioning why certain statements were made to stoke fear. “Why are people saying all sorts of things? They are just making unwanted noise.” He added that political firmness should not be mistaken for hostility. He said those within DAP who continue to question Umno are from the party’s “B team,” implying that they no longer represent or control the party’s main leadership. Ahmad Zahid also expressed sympathy for Anwar, saying that although the government had announced 773 initiatives since the 15th general election, many are not felt at the grassroots level. He said more effective communication is necessary to ensure that policies are clearly understood by the people. Ahmad Zahid told members that Anwar had informed him on Friday that he would be appointed as the minister overseeing Felda and FGV Holdings Bhd, and that he would rope in Datuk Ahmad Maslan as his deputy minister to oversee the entities. He also asked delegates whether they agreed to his suggestion for Umno to open its doors to all Malays as a “House of Malay Unification”. Ahmad Zahid’s proposal was met with strong support.

KUALA LUMPUR: In his winding up speech at the 2025 Umno General Assembly yesterday, party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that the party and Barisan Nasional (BN) are reliable partners. The deputy prime minister highlighted that the support of Umno and BN for Anwar was decisive in enabling him to become the prime minister.

to manage the country. Using an analogy, Ahmad Zahid said Umno should not be treated as expendable. “When cooking curry, curry leaves are put into the pot. But when it’s time to eat, they are pushed aside. Umno is not curry leaves.” He stressed that if political

“If not Zahid, who else would you trust? Even though our seats are small in number – 30, he (Pakatan Harapan) had 82. So, 82 plus 30 is what made it possible for him to become prime minister.” Ahmad Zahid said Umno had no hidden agenda but only wanted to be trusted in helping

Ahmad Zahid delivering his winding-up speech at the assembly yesterday. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

President cements leadership position, unites BN KUALA LUMPUR: The 2025 Umno General Assembly proved to be a powerful demonstration of the Muhamad Akmal Salleh had earlier taken a principled stand by relinquishing his position as a Malacca state executive wing’s leader, one should not just be a “yes man”. Another Umno prodigal son also demonstrated deep

included respect for the party’s decision to remain in the government until the next general election. For those who accuse Ahmad Zahid of abandoning or being disloyal to his predecessor Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, such claims were decisively rebutted when Ahmad Zahid, before more than 6,000 party delegates, called on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant a royal pardon to Najib, who is currently jailed at Kajang Prison. Criticism of Umno’s cooperation with DAP within the Madani government also fell silent when Federal Territory Umno delegate Datuk Tengku Zuhri Tengku Abdul Aziz reminded party members that Umno does not simply comply with every demand made by its coalition partners. Meanwhile, if party members insist on reviving cooperation with PAS, former Umno vice

respect for the party president. Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar, who once challenged Ahmad Zahid for the Umno presidency, openly told the media that his attendance at the Umno Youth General Assembly was made with Ahmad Zahid’s consent. Khairy was expelled from Umno in 2023 and had previously been vocal in criticising Ahmad Zahid’s leadership. Yet, his remarks to the media last Thursday showed the enduring respect Ahmad Zahid commands. At the same time, Khairy distanced himself from calls by Umno Youth to withdraw support for the Madani government, stressing that Muhamad Akmal’s remarks were more nuanced and

councillor, citing discomfort with Umno’s cooperation in the government led by Pakatan Harapan. However, before making his decision public, Muhamad Akmal had met Ahmad Zahid, who later said he respected the decision and viewed his resignation as an opportunity for the Youth leader to engage more closely with the grassroots. In the current political climate, Umno still needs figures like Muhamad Akmal. There remains a significant segment of the Malay electorate that is sceptical of DAP, a party that Umno itself had once portrayed negatively to Malay voters. Ahmad Zahid, a former Umno Youth chief, knew that being the