Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi deliverer his opening speech during the 2021 Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur March 18, 2022. – Picture by Hari Anggara
KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi opened his party’s 2021 annual general assembly by declaring Umno as battle-ready and has emerged from the ordeal of 2018’s humiliating defeat stronger, as he urged members to prepare for the general election.
The Umno president asserted that the party’s back-to-back electoral victories were the clearest indicator of a resurgent public support, and that people continue to view the Malay nationalist outfit as the best platform for economic and social progress despite efforts by rivals to paint them as corrupt and obsolete.
Umno, bolstered by the landslide majorities in the recently-concluded Melaka and Johor state elections, has been pushing for a national election within this year.
The Barisan Nasional lynchpin has been on a resurgent form that pundits attributed mostly due to division within the opposition, as it managed to capitalise on the growing “political fatigue” to reinforce the narrative that only Umno can provide stability, a strategy that worked at both the state polls.
Addressing delegates, Zahid suggested voters rewarded Umno for the loyalty of members who stuck with the party throughout difficult times.
“We must certainly remind ourselves of the episode when we lost the 14th general election. Three months later we lost in two by-elections. The wound was made deeper by the betrayal of our own friends in the party,” the Umno president said.
“They had no qualms forgetting the party’s struggle for self-interest. In fact, this betrayal spread to Sabah when 22 from the 25 Umno division leaders quit the party and its struggle. But thank god there were those who remained loyal,” Zahid added.
“This loyalty is the symbol of the faith that three million of our grassroots members have towards our cause. And it is this loyalty that fuels Umno’s revival. We then won seven subsequent by-elections and Allah’s plan was so beautiful that the change in federal power saw Umno take charge of the government.”
Zahid has hinted that the 2021 congress will seek to push Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament.
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