Umno: Zahid prepared to be challenged for his position

PUTRAJAYA - Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is prepared to face any candidates who intend to contest for the Umno’s number one position in the upcoming party election.

He said he had previously been challenged by two candidates, however, the combination of votes could not even measure against the support he received.

"I don't want to gloat, be arrogant or pretentious, but it was proven in 2018," he said in a press conference in conjunction with the 2023 New Year Mandate of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry (KKDW), here, on Thursday.

Among those present were deputy minister Datuk Rubiah Wang and the ministry’s chief secretary Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun.

He said the power and voices of 160,000 delegates would determine whether there was a change in Umno's top leadership or not to ensure the party as well as BN remain relevant on the political stage.

"My stance is that the power to determine the leadership lies in the power and voice of delegates throughout the country," he said.

He said such after commenting on the question of whether the position of president and deputy president would be contested in the Umno election this year.

Previously, several individuals voiced their views on both of the top leadership positions being contested.

Among them was Umno Youth Movement Exco Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin that believed it should be done for Umno's sake.

However, Johor Umno deputy chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed believed the election of a president and deputy president should not be done.

He said it was due to only four presidential elections had been conducted throughout Umno's 70-years of establishment.

When asked regarding the invitation of any party in the unity government to attend the Umno Annual General Assembly (AGM) scheduled next week, Zahid said the upcoming AGM had yet to invite parties in the unity government for the policy speeches and inauguration.

"However, we will send invitations in the early stages towards the Secretary-General from the coalition parties in the unity government," he said.

The 2022 AGM would take place at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre (WTCKL), here, on Jan 11, to Jan 14, 2023.

The Special General Assembly was also scheduled to take place during the 2022 AGM on Friday.