Malaysia

GE16: UMNO has not decided to cooperate with PH

Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, said the party's focus at the moment is to strengthen the existing government to ensure the stability of the country and the prosperity of the people.

Updated 8 months ago · Published on 17 Jan 2026 5:05PM

GE16: UMNO has not decided to cooperate with PH
Any political decision that will be made will prioritise the interests of the people. - January 17, 2026

UMNO has not made any decision to collaborate with Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the run-up to the 16th General Election (GE16).

Its Secretary-General, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, said the party's focus at the moment is to strengthen the existing government to ensure the stability of the country and the prosperity of the people.

"We have not made any decision regarding that (collaboration with PH in GE16).

"UMNO, as a party with long experience in governing the country, of course, we are more concerned about our responsibilities to the people," he said at a press conference in conjunction with the UMNO General Assembly (PAU) 2025 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL).

He explained that any political decision that will be made will prioritise the interests of the people.

He said this is to avoid any impact on the party, the upcoming elections, and the people's discomfort.

"If UMNO makes political decisions that do not consider the people, the impact will not only be on UMNO; in the upcoming general election, the people will definitely punish us for creating an uncomfortable environment.

"This includes political instability, which will affect the economy, investors will not come, and ultimately, the people will suffer.

"So, that's why I think if we look at the debates that have been going on for a while, UMNO leaders in this context are very rational, they are not emotional," he said. – January 17, 2026

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