His warning came against the backdrop of Umno’s poor performance in Terengganu, where its rivalry with PAS has been particularly strong.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Terengganu has urged party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to exercise caution in any negotiations with PAS, warning that the wrong political deal could leave the party facing another “40-0” result.
Umno Kuala Nerus division chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, a former Terengganu menteri besar, said any negotiations must be conducted calmly and ensure both sides benefited, rather than allowing one party to emerge as the sole winner.
“When negotiating with the other side, be careful, Datuk Seri (Ahmad Zahid). You also have to think about us.
“When negotiating and seeking consensus, don’t just chase the gains. Let both sides benefit.
“Think carefully, Datuk Seri. Otherwise, we may end up with 40-0 again,” he said.
Ahmad Razif was debating Zahid’s presidential policy speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly today.
His warning came against the backdrop of Umno’s poor performance in Terengganu, where its rivalry with PAS has been particularly strong.
In the 2023 state election, PAS-led Perikatan Nasional (PN) won all 32 state seats in Terengganu, leaving Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) without a single seat.
Ahmad Razif’s comments came as Umno and PAS, once bitter rivals, have increasingly been linked to discussions on greater political cooperation as Malay-Muslim parties consider their options ahead of the next general election.
For Umno’s Terengganu wing, however, any rapprochement carries significant political risks, given the party’s poor showing in the state and PAS’ entrenched support.
Nevertheless, Ahmad Razif said Terengganu Umno would remain loyal to Zahid and the party’s central leadership when strategic decisions were made in the national interest.
“When the leadership makes a strategic assessment for the sake of national interest and the survival of the party, Umno will stand firm, obey and remain loyal to the decisions of the president and the Umno Supreme Council,” he said.
He said party members would not turn against their own leadership, using two Malay idioms to underline his point.
“We will never become traitors within our own ranks. We will not undermine the party from within,” he said, referring to the Malay expressions “gunting dalam lipatan”, describing a hidden traitor within one’s own group, and “menikam bahtera dari dalam”, meaning to sabotage one’s own side from within.
He also urged party members to distinguish between differences of opinion and divisions within the party.
“Differences of opinion are allowed. But we must not be divided in our struggle,” he said.
Ahmad Razif said Umno must rebuild its strength in Terengganu if it wanted to return to power, even as its national leadership considered potential new political alliances.
“Think carefully. Negotiations must be mature. Let both sides win,” he said.
