Umno leaders hail Zahid Hamidi’s assembly address, saying it opens a new dimension for the party through negotiation and national consultation.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leaders have hailed president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s policy address for opening a new dimension in the party’s struggle.
They said the speech emphasised openness of thought and a political approach grounded in negotiation and national consultation.
Vice-president Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said the president opened the door for all Malays to unite and drive renewal within the party.
“Considering that the country has been independent for 68 years, the expectations of the Malay community in particular have changed significantly,” he told reporters at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur.
Johari, also the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, said major changes are needed for Umno to align with the new thinking of today’s Malay society.
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said the address showed the president’s willingness to open space for all parties.
“Today’s policy address brings a new dimension to UMNO’s struggle, where the president has publicly opened the door as wide as possible,” he said.
He described the approach as a very positive sign countering perceptions that Umno is a closed party.
Another Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, said the address was rich with messages and deep perspectives.
He highlighted the emphasis on the concept of national consultation as a clear signal of a political shift.
“This national consultation is the strongest signal for everyone to understand that this represents a new political dynamic,” he said.
Reezal Merican added that this new dynamic is based on negotiation rather than the dominance of power.
“The real tools of politics in the current scenario are not about being dominant or being the final number; it is about your ability to negotiate,” he said.
