UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi calls on party grassroots to build strength and aim for victory in Melaka following recent gains.
KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has urged the party’s grassroots to mobilise and build renewed strength, expressing confidence that Barisan Nasional can make further gains in upcoming state elections.
“When the dark clouds have passed, what we will see is a blue sky. We have turned Johor blue … InsyaAllah, we will also turn Melaka blue. After that, we will turn the whole country blue,” he said during the closing session of the Malay Education Convention 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.
The Deputy Prime Minister called on party members to strengthen their efforts at grassroots level through education, commitment and determination.
“Let us go to the grassroots in large numbers to build this new strength: strength through education, commitment and determination to bring about change,” he said.
Melaka is preparing for a state election, with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh hinting on Sept 7 that the state assembly could be dissolved later this month.
Zahid had on Sept 6 urged Ab Rauf to announce the dissolution of the Melaka state assembly sooner, saying voters, particularly young people, should be given the opportunity to determine the state’s direction and future.
Speaking further during his closing remarks, Zahid said progress in Malay education would also contribute to higher national productivity and capabilities.
“When Malay productivity increases, Malaysia’s productivity also increases. When the community’s mastery of knowledge expands, the country’s capacity expands,” he said.
The convention brought together academics and student representatives to discuss educational challenges facing B40 and M40 households, UiTM’s role and the future of AUKU.
Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan.
Zahid calls for UMNO-PAS ulama cooperation
Earlier, Zahid called for closer cooperation between UMNO and PAS religious scholars when closing the Multaqa Ilmuan 2.0 programme at the same venue.
He said unity must go beyond political understandings and translate into joint efforts to address issues affecting the Muslim community.
“Not merely sitting together, but working together. Not merely agreeing on political understandings, but agreeing on the matters we must resolve.
“Let there be no betrayal among us. Let there be no lies between us,” he said.
Zahid also expressed hope that UMNO’s Ulama Council would prepare a practical and results-oriented cooperation blueprint within 100 days.
He said the blueprint should cover Muslim unity, the management of political differences and priority community concerns before being presented to the Majlis Perundingan Umat for agreement and joint implementation.
He hoped the meeting between the PAS Ulama Council and UMNO’s Ulama Council would mark the beginning of sustained cooperation rather than remain a one-off encounter.
