Don't play with fire, Zahid warns both friends and foes

Don't play with fire, Zahid warns both friends and foes

Published: May 11, 2025 12:33 PM
Updated: 3:46 PM



Summary

• Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi offers fiery caution to friends and foes in conjunction with the party’s 79th anniversary.

• He stresses the importance of Umno remaining steadfast at the helm of moderate politics.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi offered a fiery caution to both friends and foes in conjunction with his party’s 79th anniversary.

“My message to both friends and foes: do not doubt trust, and respect the boundaries.

“A small fire, if carefully tended. When betrayed, it can turn into a blaze, when it spreads, its heat is unbearable, its flames unstoppable - and we fear it may burn everything,” he added.

Zahid’s caution came after he stressed the importance of Umno remaining steadfast at the helm of moderate politics.

He said this is crucial in a world rife with division and prejudice, and through this approach, Umno would once again become a pillar not only for the Malays but for the entire nation.

Zahid also described Umno as the “engineer of power-sharing,” emphasising the strength that comes from unity.

“Umno has never stood alone. In 1955, together with MCA and MIC through the Alliance - its strength was further reinforced in 1974 with the formation of BN. While we continue to uphold the party’s principles, we nurture trust and mutual respect.

“This is Umno’s political DNA - a politics of moderation that rejects extremism, a politics of integration that rejects racial rhetoric, a politics of stability that rejects division,” he added.

He stated that in a polarised world dominated by extreme politics and divisive rhetoric, Umno must not be drawn into a race to prove who is more radical.

Umno not subservient to DAP

Zahid acknowledged that Umno’s decision to join the coalition government after the last general election remains a topic of ridicule and debate.

He noted that some have questioned the party’s sincerity, even going so far as to stoke public sentiment by suggesting that Umno is now subservient to DAP.

He clarified that the decision to form the coalition government was made in the national interest, to ensure political stability.

“And to those who are eager to fan the flames of religious and racial sentiment, remember - these are the same individuals who once allied with DAP under Barisan Alternatif and Pakatan Rakyat for nearly a decade.

“They are the very ones who formed a government with DAP to bring us down in GE14, even going so far as to compromise principles by using the PKR logo.

“Even more ironic is that when Umno cooperated with MCA and MIC, we were once labelled as infidels. Today, they adopt the same model but hide behind religious rhetoric. This is the political hypocrisy that some among us have begun to fall for,” he added in an obvious reference to PAS.

On the same note, Zahid said he realises that there are still some within Umno whose hearts are clouded with doubt.

“Some are still swayed by sentiments and whispers. I urge all Umno members and leaders - stop sowing suspicion, rise and strengthen your faith,” he added.

Sailing in an unpredictable ocean

Zahid also highlighted Umno’s challenges, including the task of restoring the people’s trust in both politics and Umno itself, following the wave of negative perceptions, slander, and falsehoods effectively spread since the 14th general election in 2018, which witnessed the collapse of the BN government.

“Second, how we must strengthen the internal unity of the party, which has been wounded by division and betrayal - a challenge that requires wisdom and prudence, not emotions that ultimately harm us.

“Third, can Umno adapt its approach to the struggle so that it aligns with the demands of the new generation - a generation born in a completely different political landscape, one that is well-informed?” he asked.

Complicating the situation further, Zahid noted that Umno is navigating a political landscape that is highly unpredictable.

He said there is no longer a dominant party like there was in the pre-GE14 era, where Umno was once the pillar of political stability, with political parties now forced to merge, negotiate, and share power to form a government.

“Second, the people are becoming more open and more critical. Their dependence on political parties is diminishing, leading to a trust deficit caused by leaders who often quarrel, make empty promises, and neglect the interests of the people.

“Third, the current generation of voters - Gen Z and Alpha - have a different perspective, shaped by the timeline of social media, rather than the fading rhetoric of the past.

“The narrative of history no longer resonates with their emotions; what they long for is a future that holds hope for themselves and their homeland,” he added.