KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi fired back at those challenging the party to quit the unity government.
Addressing his critics, the Deputy Prime Minister said Umno should not be pressured to leave the administration, stressing that the unity government was formed with the party’s support, including for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“They dare us to leave the government. They challenge us to see if we dare to leave.
“(But) you must remember that this unity government exists because of Umno.
“The Prime Minister became Prime Minister because of Umno’s support, you know.
“I am not angry, I am fired up. The understanding was that this is a coalition government known as the Malaysian unity government.
"Where did it say the Madani government?” he said in his winding-up speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly here on Saturday (Sept 12).
Ahmad Zahid issued a blunt challenge to those calling for the party to leave the unity government, saying they should formally remove Umno from Putrajaya if its support is no longer needed.
He said in order to accomplish this, either hold an early general election to seek a fresh mandate or table a motion of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.
“If we are asked to leave, the basic logic is that a fresh mandate should be obtained.
“There are only two options. Either obtain a fresh mandate through a second general election, or officially remove us and table a vote of no confidence,” he said.
His remarks were met with shouts of “bubar” (dissolve) from the delegates.
