Zahid says new Malay parties must unite, not divide

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said new Malay-based political parties were welcome, provided they helped unite rather than further divide the community.

Speaking after the Majlis Zikir Peringatan Haul Asmaulhusna 2026 at Masjid Sultan Iskandar in Bandar Dato’ Onn, Johor Bahru, today, the Barisan Nasional chairman said any individual or political figure was free to establish a new party as long as it helped unite Malays rather than deepen existing divisions.

“We welcome any individual or figure, on the condition that we unite our thinking and do not continue to be divided among ourselves.

“Whatever platform is used, if in the end we are able to unite our actions around the national agenda, the Islamic agenda and the agenda of our community, insya-Allah.

“We will be able to lend our support because we have also come together through dialogues and discussions under the national collaboration initiative that we have undertaken,” he said, as reported by Berita Harian.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Umno president, said differences in opinion should be channelled into advancing national interests, Islamic causes and the welfare of future generations, without sidelining other races and religions in the country.

He added that Umno’s Rumah Bangsa initiative had succeeded in promoting national unity.

His remarks came a day after Reset chairman Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin announced that the movement would operate under a new party known as Parti Wawasan Negara as part of efforts to strengthen political cooperation across different blocs in the country.

Hamzah reportedly said the party had been established as a platform for unity and would work with PAS and other like-minded parties to build a more comprehensive political understanding.