KUALA LUMPUR: Ministers raised concerns about the respective races during the recent 2026 Madani Government Retreat.
Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was personally involved in the presentation, with a focus on issues concerning Malays throughout the government's administration.
Without revealing the presentation, Ahmad Zahid said the one-and-a-half-day Cabinet offsite gathering held last weekend was a forum for coalition party leaders of the unity government to present issues related to the concerns of the races and the states they govern.
“I was asked to present the concerns, anxieties and frustrations of the Malays.
“Yang Berhormat Anthony Loke (DAP secretary-general) presented the concerns of the Chinese, Datuk Seri R. Ramanan (PKR vice-president) shared the concerns of the Indians, Tan Sri Abang Johari Abang Openg (GPS chairman) on Sarawak issues, and Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (GRS chairman) on Sabah,” he said during Digital Era Politics Symposium 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur here, on Wednesday (Jan 14).
Ahmad Zahid said the retreat also discussed lessons from the Sabah state election held in November last year.
The presentation was conducted by Pakatan Harapan secretary-general Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in his capacity as Pakatan joint election director.
Ahmad Zahid added that coalition manifestos were another key focus, with Umno information chief Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said analysing similarities and differences among them.
“Barisan Nasional, Pakatan Harapan and other coalition partners each have different manifestos, but there are common themes.
“Cost of living, unemployment and housing remain shared concerns, while other issues differ across parties. All of these were analysed in detail,” he said.
