KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has taken a swipe at the government over the uncertainty surrounding the Budi Madani fuel quota, questioning whether allocation limits would be conveniently raised ahead of the next general election.
Ahmad Zahid is believed to be referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, whom he repeatedly referred to as "teacher", saying that unpredictable quota shifts were creating unnecessary financial anxiety for the public.
“When afraid, it goes up again, only for it to increase further when the general election is near. Who is doing this? The teacher. Enough is enough. Listen to our voice, teacher. Listen to the voice of the people,” Ahmad Zahid said during his presidential policy speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly on Friday (Sept 11).
Ahmad Zahid asserted that Umno, alongside Barisan Nasional and its partners, could deliver better results for the nation.
“God willing, we can do better than what the teacher has done. This is not just the voice of Umno. It is also the voice of all Barisan Nasional parties, PAS leaders, and the people as a whole. Teacher, listen. Do not turn a blind eye. Do not turn a deaf ear,” he added.
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Moving beyond fuel subsidies, the Deputy Prime Minister urged the government to overhaul how it measures national economic success, arguing that Gross Domestic Product (GDP) metrics fail to reflect real household struggles.
“While GDP is important, people do not live by GDP figures. They live on the wages they take home,” Ahmad Zahid added.
“Imagine being a father earning RM5,000. Naturally, you are thinking about monthly commitments—house payments, insurance, and healthcare costs. And that is before even factoring in the Budi95 quota.”
He proposed targeting household disposable income directly rather than relying solely on macro-level growth data.
“Teacher, we aspire to build a prosperous nation to ensure that every family has a 30% surplus in disposable income after meeting basic needs—allowing them to save, invest, and enjoy life,” Ahmad Zahid said, maintaining that his critique was intended to resolve public anxiety rather than provoke political discord.
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Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Budi Madani, Barisan Nasional, PAS, Umno General Assembly
