UMNO has sent clear signal ahead of GE16, says Batu division chief

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO has sent a clear signal that it is preparing for the 16th general election (GE16), with its 2026 general assembly ending on a “war footing”, according to Batu UMNO division chief Gulam Muszaffar.

Gulam said UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s policy and closing speeches showed that the party had begun charting its direction towards GE16, with the leadership appearing ready to mobilise its grassroots machinery.

He said the presentation of the Malaysia Biru agenda and Tekad16 at the assembly could be viewed as resembling a GE16 manifesto, outlining the party’s agenda and vision for the country.

“This is what a political party’s general assembly should be about — discussing national interests and setting out its vision and direction,” he said in a statement today.

Gulam contrasted UMNO’s assembly with recent conventions held by other government parties, which he claimed had focused largely on attacking, criticising and finding fault with political opponents.

He said Zahid’s speeches were instead grounded in fundamental issues, objectives and political realities, portraying UMNO as a “government in waiting”.

“There is nothing wrong with viewing Zahid as a ‘prime minister in waiting’,” he said.

Gulam also said Zahid’s challenge to the unnamed “Guru” party in Dewan Merdeka — either to push for an early dissolution of Parliament or table a no-confidence motion against UMNO — should be taken seriously as it reflected the growing strain in UMNO’s relationship with its partners in the unity government.

“That is, if the ‘Guru’ party has the courage to do so,” he said.

Gulam said the biggest takeaway from the 2026 assembly was that UMNO members could now begin anticipating the party’s direction heading into GE16.

He claimed the party’s future political alignment would no longer be with Pakatan Harapan (PH), saying this reflected the aspirations and wishes of UMNO’s grassroots.

“The UMNO-BN alignment will no longer be with PH after this. That is certain,” he said.

Gulam made the remarks following the conclusion of the UMNO 2026 general assembly yesterday.