Umno’s exit from unity govt would demand fresh mandate, not backroom deal, says Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today that the party’s removal from the unity government would require a fresh mandate to determine the country’s next administration.

He said there would be only two options if Umno were asked to leave the government: hold a general election to obtain a fresh mandate, or formally remove the party and hold a vote of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.

“If we are asked to leave, logically, the original basis of 112 seats would no longer exist. A new mandate should be obtained.

“There are only two choices. One is to obtain the mandate again by holding a general election. The second is to officially remove us and hold a vote of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat,” he 

said in his closing speech at the Umno general assembly here.

His remarks drew loud chants of “Bubar!” – meaning “dissolve” in Malay – from delegates in the hall.

Zahid said the original 112-seat basis comprised 82 seats held by Pakatan Harapan and 30 by Barisan Nasional (BN) before other parties subsequently joined the administration.

He also pointed out that three PKR lawmakers, Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad and Wong Chen, had since left the party.

Zahid’s remarks came after he criticised cybertroopers loyal to PKR, nicknamed “Ceplos” by Rafizi, who have called for Umno to leave the unity government, challenging them to act on their demands.

“Don’t ask us to leave the government. They challenge us, saying, ‘Leave the government if you dare.’ Remember, the Malaysian unity government exists because of Umno, and the prime minister became prime minister because of Umno’s support,” he said.

“Do you have the courage? If you do, throw us out quickly. If you do, dissolve quickly,” Zahid said.

He also questioned the use of the term ‘Madani government’, saying the agreement for the administration under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was to refer to it as the ‘unity government’. 

Zahid then read aloud the definition of a unity government from a piece of paper he was holding, telling his critics to look at the document.

Yesterday, Zahid called for the 16th general election to be held as soon as possible, saying BN should not wait until the last possible moment to seek a fresh mandate from voters.

At the end of his speech, he told delegates that this would be the last general assembly before GE16.