Zahid hints at retirement, says Bagan Datuk must be fully developed first

BAGAN DATUK - Bagan Datuk MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has hinted that he may be at the end of his service as an MP.

However, he said he wanted to ensure that Bagan Datuk continued progressing and achieving zero poverty before leaving the political arena.

"I became an MP in 1995 and in my opinion it's a very long service and I'm at the end of my service as an MP.

"However, before I end it, I want Bagan Datuk to be developed, progress, become number one in terms of education in Perak and having good infrastructure.

"We also want the poverty among Indians, Chinese and Malays to be eradicated and this is the determination of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to put a hard zero poverty throughout the nation," he said in a speech at the Bagan Datuk Parliament Deepavali Santunan Kasih Ceremony earlier today.

When met after the ceremony, the Rural and Regional Development Minister refused to comment further on his retirement plans.

"Maybe in the 16th, 17th, 18th general elections (GE), we will wait for the right one," he said briefly.

Zahid, 70, has been the Bagan Datuk MP for seven terms since the GE9 in 1995.

He was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister in 2015 to 2018, and again in 2022.