UMNO’S decision to remain in the unity government until the next general election has the full backing of the party’s grassroots and leadership, its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, stressing that the position reflects collective agreement rather than a personal stance.
“I have no doubt about it. This is not about my stand, this is the party’s stand,” he said when asked whether he had full support within Umno to continue backing the unity government until the next polls.
Ahmad Zahid said the issue had been discussed and endorsed over several years through Umno’s key decision-making platforms, including the political bureau, the supreme council and the party’s general assembly.
Umno currently holds 26 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, while its Barisan Nasional partners contribute an additional four MPs, with MCA holding two seats and MIC and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah holding one each.
Looking ahead to the next general election, Ahmad Zahid said Umno is setting its sights on contesting and winning more than 30 parliamentary seats. He said the party intends to go beyond the seats it currently holds by targeting constituencies where it previously performed strongly but fell short.
“I would say, not only 30 seats that we had won, but other seats we considered as ‘tier two’ seats, those seats we lost, but we managed to secure the second highest votes,” he told reporters at the World Trade Centre on Tuesday.
Asked whether these potential targets include seats currently held by Bersatu, Ahmad Zahid said any decision would be based on a comprehensive assessment of electoral data. It would “depend on the analysed data of all the seats”, he said.
On Umno’s strategy after the general election, he said it was too early to determine whether the party would align itself formally with any coalition. “When we face the general election, although we go solo, that does not mean we are not collaborating with any parties for that matter,” he said, adding that post-election arrangements would depend on the outcome.
Ahmad Zahid also offered a broad estimate on the timing of the next general election, saying it could take place “within 22 months from now”.
On the possibility of state elections in Melaka and Johor, he said the decision rests with the respective chief minister and mentri besar.
Speaking earlier at the convocation ceremony of Sekolah Politik Umno, Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that the party could restore its political fortunes through systematic leadership training for younger members. The programme focuses on grooming future leaders and reinforcing what he described as the sovereignty of race, religion and country.
“Umno will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2046. I am hopeful that by then, or even before that, our party will reach greater heights owing to the graduates of this programme,” he said.
“We want to see a future Prime Minister coming from these graduates. That is our goal.”
A total of 56 participants graduated at the ceremony, bringing the number of graduates produced since the programme’s launch last year to 158.
Asked if it includes the Bersatu seats, he said it would depend on the analysed data of all the seats.
"We have to really analyse it first," he said.
Pressed whether Umno would go solo or join another coalition after the general election, Ahmad Zahid said it would depend largely on the outcome of the general elections.
"When we face the general election, although we go solo, that does not mean we are not collaborating 'based on dotted lines' with any parties for that matter.
"The formation of the next government depends on how many seats we are going to get and how strong or weak the support given to our candidates," said Ahmad Zahid.
The Umno General Assembly 2025 will be held from Jan 14 to 17 at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Kuala Lumpur, after being postponed twice in August and November last year to allow the party to prepare for the 17th Sabah State Election.
Asked for his predictions on when the elections would be, Ahmad Zahid said "within 22 months from now."
On the upcoming Melaka and Johor state elections, the Umno president said that it would be up to the respective Chief Minister and Mentri Besar.
"We have to work hard and work smart on it. We still have to put extra effort by gaining the support of voters in the two states," he said.
In his main message to the party delegates ahead of the Umno General Assembly, the party president said, "strengthen our unity within the party, that is important," he said. - January 14, 2026
