KUALA LUMPUR — Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reiterated his call for the 16th General Election (GE16) to be held before the current parliamentary term expires, saying the mandate should be returned to the people.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said the coalition was prepared to face its political opponents, describing GE16 as a defining moment for BN’s bid to regain the mandate to lead the country.
“This is not a demand or a hope, but this is the will of the people. Enough is enough, give us the opportunity now.
“Since we have started, we might as well see it through to the end. Since we are already fighting, let us fight all the way.
“Although our DNA is that of leading, victory does not come rolling in on its own. We need to understand strategy and the realities of the current environment,” he said in his policy speech at the Umno General Assembly 2026 at Dewan Merdeka here today.
The assembly was attended by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, MIC president Tan Sri S A Vigneswaran, Parti Progresif Rakyat president Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah deputy president Datuk Richard Kastum.
Also present were PAS vice-president Datuk Idris Ahmad, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, PAS assistant secretary-general II Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman and PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari.
Ahmad Zahid said the call for an early GE16 took into account a political landscape that had become increasingly complex, with Malay politics no longer centred around a single political platform.
He said BN could no longer rely on past formulas across all electoral battlegrounds, as voter behaviour had changed significantly.
“Voter loyalty is no longer inherited. What was white before does not necessarily remain white forever. The new generation is also not tied to the nostalgia of old politics.
“Demographics, issues, candidates and sentiments are also different. That is the situation today. In Sabah, it gave us lessons, while Johor raised our confidence.
“Negeri Sembilan showed that understanding can become a strength, while Melaka, God willing, will be the next battleground to test how far the ‘Blue Wave’ can truly be translated.
“The Blue Wave is not only to make Umno a complement to the government,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid said the coalition’s strategy ahead of GE16 must reflect the realities of a changing electorate, adding that BN’s goal was to return as the country’s leading political force.
“GE16 is the defining moment for us to regain the mandate to lead the country,” he said. – September 11, 2026