00:00Don't dream of an UMNO Prime Minister when the party has a measly number of seats in the Dewan Rakyat,
00:07says Party President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
00:11There is no meaning if we want to become this and that if our seats are taken away, is that right?
00:18So we must avoid that taking away for dominance again.
00:23He conceded that the support of the Malays for UMNO now is still low.
00:28He said embracing the idea of a new political landscape,
00:31which is forming a government with former party rivals, has not been popular with UMNO members.
00:37I admit that it is still at a low level.
00:42That's why I refer to issues and sentiments that are not well handled by my party.
00:52Not only by the leadership of UMNO, but also by the leadership of the government.
00:59Ahmad Zahid said party leaders must effectively convey cabinet decisions to members and the masses,
01:06so that the grassroots have a sense of belonging to the Medani government.
01:10The Deputy Prime Minister also brushed aside the notion that DAP is a liability to UMNO,
01:16its former bitter rival.
01:19He said the parties in the unity government are actually on the same page
01:22when it comes to discuss certain issues.
01:25For example, the status of the Malays.
01:30The status of Islam, the rights of the Malays, and the language.
01:36You all don't know that in the cabinet,
01:40even if the matter is discussed, there is no objection
01:45from the party that is very reluctant to do so.
01:49This is reality.
01:52Because the party leaders are on my right,
01:56in the cabinet, never once.
01:59This is a perception, that's why I said we must handle this with a perception.
02:03No.
02:04Because it's the opponents who are the matchmakers,
02:07so that we can argue.
02:08Actually, there is no such problem.
02:10Ahmad Zahid conducted a special interview with selected media
02:14prior to the UMNO General Assembly, which begins on August 21.
02:19He said this General Assembly will be about promoting the government agenda
02:23for the Bumiputra, such as technical and vocational education and training TVET,
02:28the halal industry and entrepreneurship.
02:31He added that the party polls will only come into play in 2026.
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