UMNO has renewed its call for the 16th General Election (PRU16) to be held earlier, saying Malaysians should be given the chance to decide on a new mandate for the administration in Putrajaya.
UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the country had been caught in an “endless political war” over the past eight years, despite elections having already been concluded.
He said Malaysians were increasingly tired of hearing about political manoeuvring, including attempts to topple governments and “backdoor” politics, while stressing that UMNO had no intention of taking such an approach.
“So, the time has come for PRU16 to be held earlier. This is not a demand, but a hope that reflects the wishes of the people. Enough is enough, give us a chance this time,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid was speaking during his presidential policy speech at the 2026 UMNO General Assembly (PAU) here today.
The Deputy Prime Minister also struck a more combative tone, declaring that UMNO would continue to fight, although he did not identify any particular party as its enemy.
“If we are going to fight, then let us fight. If we have started fighting, we should see it through,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said the “blue wave” that emerged during the Johor state election and subsequently continued into Negeri Sembilan was not simply about UMNO becoming a supplementary force within the government.
Instead, he described the momentum as a defining moment for UMNO to regain the mandate to lead the country.
“We must embrace our other friends so that together we can chart success in PRU16,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid had previously called for the general election to be held ahead of schedule, despite the current parliamentary term only being due to expire at the end of next year.
“In my view, if the general election is held earlier, that would be better. That way, we can obtain the people’s mandate,” he was previously reported as saying.
