Umno-Amanah tensions spread to Kedah
Published: Jan 26, 2026 1:40 PM
Updated: 5:45 PM
Ongoing tensions between Umno and Amanah have spread beyond Johor and Malacca, with Kedah Amanah now being the latest to announce its likelihood of contesting solo in the upcoming 16th general election.
The party’s Kedah bureau said today that they have taken note of the state Umno and BN chapters’ similar inclination, and that they have chosen to respect this decision.
“Therefore, Kedah Amanah respects their stance, as it is in their position to determine their own direction for the next election,” they said in a press statement.
They explained that this decision has been identified as one of several resolutions following a recent Kedah Amanah election machinery retreat, which took place on Jan 23 and 24 last week.
Following the recent Umno general assembly earlier this month, several Kedah Umno leaders have since been quoted in media reports saying that they supported the state’s Umno bureau’s autonomy to determine its own political strategy, without involving the coalition government.
The posturing is despite both Umno and Amanah suffering a total wipeout in the 2023 Kedah state election.
Perikatan Nasional won the state with a landslide majority, securing 33 out of 36 seats in the state legislative assembly, while Amanah’s Pakatan Harapan allies, PKR and DAP, won the remaining three seats.
Tensions between Amanah and Umno flared yesterday, with Umno Youth Chief Dr Akmal Saleh and Johor Umno Youth chief Noor Azleen Ambros taking jabs at Amanah leaders Khalid Abdul Samad and Aminolhuda Hassan, who similarly suggested contesting independently in the upcoming Malacca and Johor state elections.
Dr Akmal Saleh
Responding to Khalid, Akmal - who is Merlimau assemblyperson in Malacca - had suggested that the two parties should just clash, while Noor Azleen had challenged Aminolhuda to name Amanah’s Johor menteri besar candidate if the party intends to challenge its government ally.
Seats to contest identified
In today’s statement, Kedah Amanah also said they have identified the respective state assembly and parliamentary seats to be contested in the next election.
Among its target Kedah assembly seats are Kuah, Bukit Kayu Hitam, and Bandar Baharu, while Pokok Sena and Jerai have been identified as potential parliamentary seats.
The party said it would continue to negotiate with its coalition partners in Harapan to ensure there is no overlap.
“Kedah Amanah expresses its commitment to provide firm support, and we will work hard to assist in any seats contested by our political coalition partners, PKR, and DAP in the next general election,” they added.
The party’s Kedah bureau also said that it has instructed all divisions to immediately establish and activate its election operation machinery at both the state and parliamentary levels in Kedah, in preparation for the 16th general election.
They also emphasised that they would focus on establishing the appropriate election machinery at the polling district level, specifically in its target seats.
Responding to Khalid, Akmal - who is Merlimau assemblyperson in Malacca - had suggested that the two parties should just clash, while Noor Azleen had challenged Aminolhuda to name Amanah’s Johor menteri besar candidate if the party intends to challenge its government ally.
Seats to contest identified
In today’s statement, Kedah Amanah also said they have identified the respective state assembly and parliamentary seats to be contested in the next election.
Among its target Kedah assembly seats are Kuah, Bukit Kayu Hitam, and Bandar Baharu, while Pokok Sena and Jerai have been identified as potential parliamentary seats.
The party said it would continue to negotiate with its coalition partners in Harapan to ensure there is no overlap.
“Kedah Amanah expresses its commitment to provide firm support, and we will work hard to assist in any seats contested by our political coalition partners, PKR, and DAP in the next general election,” they added.
The party’s Kedah bureau also said that it has instructed all divisions to immediately establish and activate its election operation machinery at both the state and parliamentary levels in Kedah, in preparation for the 16th general election.
They also emphasised that they would focus on establishing the appropriate election machinery at the polling district level, specifically in its target seats.
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