The Malaysian Insight

UMNO must be prepared for the possibility of a regrouped opposition in the next general election, party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

“Although the opposition parties were divided in Malacca, Sarawak and Johor, they could group together to face us in GE15 (15th general election),” he said in his winding-up speech at the 2021 Umno General Assembly today.

“As such, do not feel too comfortable and be deceived.”

On the timing of GE15, Zahid said Umno wants the election as soon as possible despite Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s promise to discuss the matter with the top Umno leadership.

“There is no ‘pantun’ (poetry) for this. What there is, is Umno wants GE15 to be held as soon as possible. Full stop!” he said.

Zahid reiterated the need for Umno’s plan to win the next general election.

He said Umno’s objective is to return to power again at the federal and state levels. 

“To achieve this, we must strengthen the party and identify new talent who will be trained in our school of politics,” he said.

This school, he said, will be headed by former Perak menteri besar Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He said Barisan Nasional (BN) must strengthen itself and find the best strategy to win GE15. 

“Umno must build relationships with important figures that have integrity, including academics, social activists and civil society groups,” he said.

Zahid said Umno and BN will have to craft the right narrative for GE15.

“As suggested by the deputy president (Mohamad Hasan), we must come up with a common agenda,” he said.

“If all this can be done, we hope to win 123 Parliament seats.”

There are 222 seats in the Dewan Rakyat. – March 19, 2022.