Zahid: Umno must make tough calls for nation's stability, even if unpopular
Explaining the matter when officiating the Raub UMNO Division Delegates' Meeting, he emphasised that in any struggle, not all decisions taken will be comfortable — but they must be principled.
'No matter how high our position is in the party or government, we must realise that every post is a trust that must be carried out with full responsibility,' he said.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Deputy Prime Minister, said what UMNO needs most right now is unity of purpose and strong fighting spirit, without faltering when tested.
He also reminded party members to take UMNO and BN's failure to form the government in the past two general elections (GE) as a lesson and turning point to rebuild the party's strength.
'We have been tested twice in the general elections… enough of the divisions, quarrels, shooting at each other, and hidden saboteurs within. Let us learn from past weaknesses and fix UMNO and Barisan Nasional from within… hopefully, we can be dominant once again,' he said.
At press conference afterwards, Ahmad Zahid said UMNO would look into whether any of its members had participated in the rally held in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
'UMNO is now part of the MADANI Government, and we must strengthen, not undermine, the government that is in place,' he said. — Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
India committed to 'fair, balanced' trade with US
NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday said it was committed to negotiating a "fair, balanced" trade deal with Washington, after US President Donald Trump said Indian goods would face steep tariffs and New Delhi would be penalised for purchases of Russian weapons and energy. Months of trade negotiations between India and the United States have failed to seal a deal, with sticking points including Trump's sweeping demands and New Delhi's reluctance to fully open its agricultural and dairy sectors. Two days before Trump's August 1 tariffs deadline, the US president announced that imports from India would be hit with a 25 per cent tariff. The Indian government said it had "taken note" of Trump's announcement and was "studying its implications". "India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective," it said in a statement, also noting that it was determined to protect the welfare of Indian farmers and entrepreneurs. "The Government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK." - AFP


Free Malaysia Today
2 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Let those who don't need RM100 aid return it, says MCA
MCA president Wee Ka Siong said he would be the first to return the RM100 one-off cash aid announced this morning. PETALING JAYA : MCA has called on the government to introduce a mechanism that would allow Malaysians who do not need the RM100 one-off cash aid announced this morning to return the funds. In a Facebook post, MCA president Wee Ka Siong said the returned funds could be channelled to healthcare and education. Wee said the funds could be used to expedite elective treatments for 15,000 patients at government hospitals, some of whom face a waiting period of up to 21 months. The money could also be used to offer scholarships to straight-A Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia students as well as Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia and matriculation graduates with excellent CGPAs, he said. 'Rather than spending public money that may benefit those who don't really need it, wouldn't it be better to support those who genuinely do, while also upgrading our healthcare and education systems? 'It will be a win-win solution. The people get to choose, and the government wins too!' he said. Earlier today, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced the one-off cash aid for all Malaysians aged 18 and above, under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah initiative. The money, which will be channelled through recipients' MyKad, is in conjunction with the National Day celebration, he said. In a special televised announcement, Anwar said the aid could be used between Aug 31 and Dec 31 to purchase basic necessities from over 4,100 outlets, including hypermarkets such as Mydin, Lotus, Econsave, and 99 Speedmart. He said the government had set aside RM2 billion for the initiative, which is expected to benefit some 22 million citizens. Wee said he believed that Anwar, his ministers and elected representatives would be willing to forgo the RM100. 'I will be the first to contribute mine,' he said. In a separate statement, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) said it welcomed the reduction in RON95 prices and the RM100 one-off grocery aid but stressed that these measures would only provide temporary relief for low-income households. PSM deputy chairman S Arutchelvan said that instead of one-off handouts, a universal basic income and a pension scheme for the elderly would have a more lasting impact. He also proposed doubling the public healthcare budget and increasing the minimum wage, while supporting small businesses with transition subsidies. 'These structural reforms would provide more sustainable benefits than one-off handouts. We urge the government to implement policies that permanently reduce the cost of living and address wealth inequality at its roots,' said Arutchelvan.


Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Fadhlina rubbishes claim matriculation inferior to STPM
Labis MP Pang Hok Liong had asked if the government was prepared to abolish the programme to address 'public suspicions' that it is of a far lower standard than the STPM examination. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Education minister Fadhlina Sidek has dismissed suggestions to abolish the matriculation programme, and denied claims that it is inferior to the Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examination. Fadhlina said the matriculation programme remained a recognised pre-university pathway, with graduates accepted by both local and international universities. 'The qualification is recognised by 58 foreign institutions, including 26 listed among the world's top 100 in the world university rankings. 'These include Cambridge University, University College London, the University of Sydney and Kyoto University,' she said in a written parliamentary reply. Fadhlina said matriculation graduates have also been eligible for Grade 29 executive posts in the civil service since 2017, in line with a 2016 circular. She said this broad recognition by universities and the public sector reflected the programme's quality and relevance. 'Therefore, questions on the standard of the matriculation programme do not arise at all,' she added. The minister was replying to Pang Hok Liong (PH-Labis), who asked if the government was prepared to abolish the programme to address 'public suspicions' that it is of a far lower standard than the STPM examination.