Zahid: Umno will not contest GE16 alone

New Straits Times

06-07-2025

MANJUNG: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today made it clear that the party will not contest the 16th General Election (GE16) on its own.
The Barisan Nasional chairman said the party continues to value both its historical partners in BN, including MCA, MIC, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), as well as its newer allies in Pakatan Harapan.
"Don't boast about wanting to contest solo. In the past, we have gone it alone. The result in Perak was just nine seats. At the national level, only 30 parliamentary seats.
"So what's wrong if, in GE16, we unite our friends in Barisan Nasional with those in Pakatan Harapan?
"In Lumut, if it is destined that the candidate chosen is based on a combination of votes from PH and BN, based on logic and political calculations, we could secure around 61,000 votes," he said.
Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, said this during his opening speech at the Umno Lumut Division meeting at Dewan Merdeka here today.
Also present were Perak Umno chief and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and Lumut Umno division chief Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
Zahid said the recent Ayer Kuning by-election demonstrated that the alliance between BN and PH must be maintained in the next general election.
"We must also embrace and support the seats that belong to our partners. Take Ayer Kuning as an example.
"In the previous election, we lost all the Chinese-majority polling districts. But in the recent by-election, we won all the Chinese-majority polling districts except one.
"This is not just about sincerity or honesty; it's about a political strategy crafted by Umno and the BN leadership. God willing, if we remain sincere and honest with our allies, it will yield excellent results.
"Did we not contest solo? Yes, we did but with the support of our friends from other parties. God willing, even as we contest under our own banner, we will continue to stand alongside our allies," he said.
Zahid also said that Umno will retain the dacing (scales) symbol for the upcoming general election, but this does not mean the party is sidelining its allies.
"What does this mean? Does it mean we want to sideline our friends from MCA, MIC, and PBRS? Does it mean we want to reject our friends in PH whether PKR, DAP, or Amanah?
"Umno has never abandoned its friends. Even with new allies, we have never discarded our long-time partners," he said.