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UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has slammed those manipulating the party’s former slogan, ‘No Anwar, No DAP,’ insisting it was intended as a declaration of UMNO’s independence in the 15th General Election, not a breach of resolutions passed at the party’s General Assembly.
Speaking at the opening of Perhimpunan Agung UMNO (PAU) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, Ahmad Zahid said, “We never sacrificed the manifestation of our party’s struggle.
That slogan once became a ‘mantra’ to suggest that we were contravening the decisions made at the PAU.”
The party president emphasised that all grassroots views, including those from the Youth, Women, and Puteri wings, are taken seriously in decision-making.
“We listen to the demands, evaluate them, and deliberate at the highest level,” he said.
Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, addressed UMNO’s role in the current unity government, stressing that the party does not seek special treatment.
“UMNO is not a token party or a ‘curry leaf’ that can be set aside. UMNO is one of the main pillars of today’s unity government,” he said.
He also rejected allegations that the party’s involvement is driven by self-interest, calling such claims baseless.
Reaffirming UMNO’s unwavering solidarity with former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, currently serving six years at Kajang Prison for abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, Zahid revealed that Najib personally contacted him to send greetings to the delegates.
“Najib reached out to me personally, even in his difficult circumstances behind bars, and sent his salam to all delegates,” he said.
Zahid also appealed to Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, for clemency and consideration for Najib.
“UMNO humbly prays to the King that Najib Razak may be granted mercy and any leniency necessary to allow him to return to his family and to all of us in UMNO,” he said, leading delegates in three rounds of ‘Daulat Tuanku.’
Najib’s sentences include a six-year term over SRC International and, separately, 15 years and RM11.38 billion in fines for 25 counts of using his position to obtain bribes and launder RM2.3 billion from 1MDB.
While his official release date is August 2028, he could be freed as early as 2026–2027 with remission.
Addressing coalition tensions, Zahid urged Barisan Nasional partners MCA and MIC, both contemplating leaving the coalition, to maintain unity.
“It has reached a point where some have decided to leave the coalition, while others have sulked and considered going elsewhere,” he said, invoking the Malay idiom “sedangkan lidah lagi tergigit,” referring to disputes even among close allies.
The idiom literally translates to “even the tongue can be bitten” and in context, it is used figuratively to mean “even close allies or friends can have disagreements or quarrels” — highlighting that arguments or conflicts can happen even among those who are very close.
“Let us not go there. Let us embrace one another. Sulking for a while is fine, but please do not continue sulking. We are tired of persuading. Come back here and sit in the ‘big’ house. We are comrades in BN.”
Tensions in BN have intensified after some MIC branches voted to cooperate with Perikatan Nasional, and MCA recently passed a resolution to quit the coalition if any component works with DAP in the next general election.
Zahid used the PAU platform, attended by approximately 6,400 delegates from 191 divisions, to reaffirm UMNO’s central role in the unity government and to call for cohesion among coalition partners amid growing political uncertainties. - January 16, 2026