Power-sharing concept a step in the right direction, says Mahdzir

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO’s decision to continue with the power-sharing concept currently practiced in the unity government is seen as a step in the right direction, said UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khaled.

He stated that this is because there are no longer any dominant parties capable of forming a government on their own unless they join forces with other parties.

“I think what the president mentioned is accurate because the issue of having a dominant party that can’t make it on its own no longer exists.

“Ultimately, power-sharing is the solution,” he said when met at the World Trade Center (WTC) during UMNO’s 2024 General Assembly.

He made this statement in response to UMNO President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s keynote speech earlier today, in which Zahid stated that UMNO will maintain the power-sharing concept as practiced to date.

Zahid mentioned that this approach is crucial for the party’s continued relevance in the changing political landscape.

According to Zahid, support solely from the party’s own members will not be sufficient to win elections for UMNO.

Instead, he said, the decisive factor for UMNO’s victory is the votes from those outside the party, who are significantly more numerous and have a larger percentage.

Meanwhile, Mahdzir remarked that Zahid’s emphasis on this matter comes after observing that power-sharing is a common practice across countries worldwide.

He noted that political parties often engage in such arrangements whether a coalition is formed before or after elections.

“However, sharing power with others is necessary if one wants to be part of the government,” he added.