MUAR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he is willing to be challenged for the Umno president post during the next party election in 2026.
However, he said he would leave it to the Umno supreme council and party general assembly to decide.
"According to the Umno constitution, party elections should be called once every three years, meaning the next one will be in 2026.
"There is also a clause (in the Umno constitution) stating that the leadership election can be postponed for 18 months, which means it depends on the decision of the supreme council and general assembly.
"We at Umno obey what is stated in the party constitution and regulations," he said after officiating the Muar Umno division meeting here on Sunday (July 14).
On Saturday (July 13), Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said he was ready to defend his party post.
His statement came after Tenggara Umno chief Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba's proposal for a motion for the president and deputy president positions to be contested at the next party polls.
On Jan 14, 2023, the Umno general assembly adopted a motion for the president and deputy president posts not to be contested that year.
Earlier, Ahmad Zahid said he would hand it to the Umno delegates to decide on the party's top posts.
"I will leave it to delegates to choose someone who can strengthen and ensure the continuity of Umno and Barisan Nasional," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said he had been Umno president for seven years and he was handed the position by former party chief Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
"At the time, I was the vice-president. Bossku gave me the responsibility of party president when he stepped down.
"I did not rise to the top by stepping on others," he said, reminding party members to rise through the ranks the right way.
Ahmad Zahid added that he wants Johor to continue being a Barisan "fixed deposit" as it won 40 out of 56 seats in the 2022 state election.
"We have to ensure Umno remains relevant. Umno and Barisan are not seasonal parties that appear when we win and disappear after that," he said.
