Latest news with #AyerKuning
New Straits Times
06-07-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Zahid: Umno will not contest GE16 alone
MANJUNG: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today made it clear that the party will not contest the 16th General Election (GE16) on its own. The Barisan Nasional chairman said the party continues to value both its historical partners in BN, including MCA, MIC, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), as well as its newer allies in Pakatan Harapan. "Don't boast about wanting to contest solo. In the past, we have gone it alone. The result in Perak was just nine seats. At the national level, only 30 parliamentary seats. "So what's wrong if, in GE16, we unite our friends in Barisan Nasional with those in Pakatan Harapan? "In Lumut, if it is destined that the candidate chosen is based on a combination of votes from PH and BN, based on logic and political calculations, we could secure around 61,000 votes," he said. Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, said this during his opening speech at the Umno Lumut Division meeting at Dewan Merdeka here today. Also present were Perak Umno chief and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and Lumut Umno division chief Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. Zahid said the recent Ayer Kuning by-election demonstrated that the alliance between BN and PH must be maintained in the next general election. "We must also embrace and support the seats that belong to our partners. Take Ayer Kuning as an example. "In the previous election, we lost all the Chinese-majority polling districts. But in the recent by-election, we won all the Chinese-majority polling districts except one. "This is not just about sincerity or honesty; it's about a political strategy crafted by Umno and the BN leadership. God willing, if we remain sincere and honest with our allies, it will yield excellent results. "Did we not contest solo? Yes, we did but with the support of our friends from other parties. God willing, even as we contest under our own banner, we will continue to stand alongside our allies," he said. Zahid also said that Umno will retain the dacing (scales) symbol for the upcoming general election, but this does not mean the party is sidelining its allies. "What does this mean? Does it mean we want to sideline our friends from MCA, MIC, and PBRS? Does it mean we want to reject our friends in PH whether PKR, DAP, or Amanah? "Umno has never abandoned its friends. Even with new allies, we have never discarded our long-time partners," he said.
Free Malaysia Today
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PN urged to clarify who is its information chief
The lack of an announcement about the positions of Ahmad Faizal Azumu (left) and Radzi Jidin could create the wrong impression, according to a PN leader. PETALING JAYA : Perikatan Nasional leaders have been urged to make official announcements of changes in important positions, following questions raised about the status of Ahmad Faizal Azumu as PN information chief. The leader of a PN component party claimed that Radzi Jidin had been appointed to replace Faizal before the Ayer Kuning by-election last month, but no official announcement had been made so far. The source expressed disappointment, saying the absence of an official announcement gave the public the perception that there were internal conflicts within the coalition. 'There really is no issue or conflict among ourselves in the leadership. But when there's no official announcement, it makes us look bad and allows people to make all sorts of assumptions,' the leader told FMT. In a Facebook post around midnight, Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said Radzi had chaired a meeting in his capacity as PN's information chief. In December, Faizal, commonly known as Peja, was named PN's information chief, taking over from Azmin Ali, who was made secretary-general. Radzi was also appointed to the PN Supreme Council. Both Radzi and Faizal are Bersatu vice-presidents.
Free Malaysia Today
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ayer Kuning win ‘purified' Umno from past weaknesses, says Khaled
Umno vice-president Khaled Nordin said PAS seems unable to move on from its past relationship with DAP and envies anyone who befriends the party. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : Umno's win in the Ayer Kuning by-election is not just a political victory, but also a moral one that has helped 'purify' the party from its previous weaknesses, says party vice-president Khaled Nordin. Khaled said the victory shows the people want cooperative and progressive politics. 'For Umno, Malaysia's political future is about the courage to take risks, especially in the current disruptive political landscape. 'Umno must explore all possibilities in developing future political understanding, including working with anyone as long as it does not harm the Malays and Islam, deny the rights of the various communities, and hold back our ambitions of making Malaysia the best nation,' he said in a statement. Yesterday, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang said the victory stemmed from the Umno-DAP alliance, which he claimed sought to 'purify' DAP, a party which had allegedly 'openly taken anti-Islam stances'. 'This includes efforts to 'cleanse' DAP and Pakatan Harapan of blame in controversies such as illegal pig farming in predominantly Malay-Muslim areas,' Hadi said. He said many Malay-Muslim voters in Ayer Kuning rejected the idea of a 'progressive and liberal Islam' and Umno-DAP's efforts to cleanse DAP's image, as these were against Islamic principles, especially in light of the health and environmental risks linked to pig farming. However, Khaled said PAS seems unable to move on from its past relationship with DAP and envies anyone who befriends the party. 'In truth, it was PAS that 'purified' DAP by 'marrying' it several times through political cooperation in the form of the Chinese Consultative Committee, Barisan Alternatif, and Pakatan Rakyat. 'At that time, everything was halal to PAS,' he said. Barisan Nasional's Yusri Bakir won the Ayer Kuning by-election after securing 11,065 votes for a 5,006-vote majority over his closest rival, Perikatan Nasional's Abdul Muhaimin Malek (6,059 votes) and Parti Sosialis Malaysia's KS Bawani (1,106 votes).
Free Malaysia Today
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
PAS denies ‘two-timing' Bersatu
PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said Bersatu's campaign machinery actively supported PAS candidates in several recent by-elections, including in Ayer Kuning on April 26. PETALING JAYA : PAS has denied claims of strain within Perikatan Nasional, after Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi suggested that Bersatu's willingness to work with Umno may be due to its two-timing partner within the coalition. PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said PN, comprising Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian People's Party, remains strong and focussed on preparing its machinery for the 16th general election (GE16). He said the strength of the partnership was evident when Bersatu's campaign machinery actively supported PAS candidates in several recent by-elections, including in Ayer Kuning on April 26. 'We've proven that our cooperation is not mere rhetoric. PN meetings continue as usual, and our machineries work together on the ground. So, any claims suggesting tension within the coalition are baseless. 'There is no rift, and the accusation that a party is playing both sides does not arise. What Bersatu deputy president Hamzah Zainudin outlined is part of a broader strategy for Malay-Muslim unity, not a merger between parties,' he told FMT. During a podcast with former minister Zaid Ibrahim earlier this month, Hamzah said Bersatu was open to cooperating with Umno due to their shared ideologies. He reiterated the same message during the Ayer Kuning by-election campaign last month, where Umno retained the seat with a bigger majority, despite voter turnout falling below 60%. Zahid claimed that Hamzah's repetition of willingness to work with Umno was due to the opposition leader realising that Bersatu had a two-timing partner, although he did not name any specific party. FMT today reported that Bersatu is actively 'window shopping' for a political partner ahead of GE16, as signals from party leaders point to growing unease within PN. Analysts say the move is driven by necessity. Responding to the report, Tuan Ibrahim reaffirmed PN's commitment to strengthening Malay-Muslim political cooperation as a long-term priority. 'Calls to strengthen unity among Malay-Muslim parties have always been part of PN's core agenda. This should not be misinterpreted as a sign of division. 'Instead, it should be seen as an effort to broaden the agenda of Muslim unity for long-term needs,' he said.
Malaysiakini
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
PAS needs universal slogan to attract MIC-like ally, says Puad
Perikatan Nasional's struggle to attract influential coalition partners presents a significant challenge, especially with PAS unable to replicate the 'Green Wave' momentum from the previous general election, according to Umno supreme council member Puad Zarkashi. Reflecting on the results of the Ayer Kuning by-election in Perak, Puad emphasised that PAS should reconsider its focus on the narrative of an Islamic state. He pointed out that this issue is hindering PN's efforts to secure meaningful non-Malay party alliances.
