‘Support of party and coalition for Madani govt decisive and driven by sincerity, without hidden agenda’
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.
“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 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 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He said those within DAP who continue to question Umno are from the party’s “B team,” implying that they no longer represent or control the party’s main leadership.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.
