KUALA LUMPUR: Umno grassroots are behind the party remaining in the unity government until the next general election, says party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“I have no doubt about it. This is not about my stand, this is the party’s stand,” he said when asked whether he has the full support of the party to remain with the unity government until the next general election.
Ahmad Zahid said he brought the matter to the political bureau and the supreme council as well as the party’s general assembly three years ago.
Umno has a total of 26 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat, while its Barisan Nasional partners MCA has two, and MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) have one MP respectively.
Ahmad Zahid revealed that Umno is eyeing more than 30 seats in the next general election.
This includes contesting seats where it came in second among competing parties, he added.
Asked if it includes Bersatu seats, he said it will depend on the analysed data of all the seats.
Pressed on whether Umno will go solo or join another coalition after the general election, Ahmad Zahid said it will depend on the outcome of the general election.
“When we face the general election, although we go solo, that does not mean we are not collaborating with any parties for that matter,” he said.
Asked for his predictions on when the general election will be held, the Umno president said, “within 22 months from now”.
On the Melaka and Johor elections, he said it will be up to the respective chief minister and mentri besar to call for the polls.
At the Sekolah Politik Umno convocation ceremony, Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that the party’s fortunes can be revived through the programme, which aims to groom and train young party members on leadership and on upholding the sovereignty of race, religion and country.
“Umno will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2046. I am hopeful that by then, or even before that, our party will reach greater heights owing to the graduates of this programme.
“We want to see a future Prime Minister coming from these graduates. That is our goal,” he said.
A total of 56 individuals graduated yesterday, with a total of 158 graduates produced since the programme’s inception last year.
