Zahid urged Umno Youth and Puteri leaders to engage more closely with young people and bring them into the party’s fold.
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi went full “Gen Z” today, urging young Malaysians to bring their ideas into the party and “slay”, “flex” and help Umno secure a “W” (win).
Zahid said the party’s “Rumah Bangsa” agenda was designed to welcome back those who had become disillusioned with Umno while opening its doors to a new generation of members and supporters.
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“If our young people have ideas, ‘slay’. Don’t keep them to yourselves. ‘Flex’ it,” he said at the 2026 Umno General Assembly today.
Acknowledging that the expressions were more familiar to younger Malaysians, Zahid joked: “I don’t think we can speak like them. This is their language now.”
Describing Umno as a “house” for generations to come, Zahid urged young members to open its windows, rearrange its spaces and “colour the walls” of the party’s struggle with the ideas and aspirations of their generation.
“Let’s see who can really bring the W (win) to Umno, for real, for real (frfr),” he said.
Zahid urged Umno Youth and Puteri leaders to engage more closely with young people and bring them into the party’s fold.
He said the older generation had a responsibility to ensure Umno remained a political home for future generations.
He added that the “Rumah Bangsa” agenda would also give those who had previously left Umno an opportunity to return and contribute to the party.
Zahid said there should be no resentment towards those who had “burned bridges”, built walls or established their own political platforms after leaving the party.
“Bridges can be rebuilt. Walls can be torn down. The huts can be left behind.
“This Umno house is big enough to accommodate all of you again,” he said.
However, Zahid cautioned returning members against bringing old disputes back into the party.
“Don’t return to rekindle the flames of conflict. Enough, enough already,” he said.
Zahid said Umno’s future depended on giving young people the space to reshape the party with their own ideas and aspirations.
