Rabble-rouser UMNO Youth Unlikely to Dent Ahmad Zahid’s Unity Call

In their opening addresses at their party’s general assemblies, UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) presidents typically outline policy directions. Yet, at the most recent meeting (14-17 January), the current president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, spent considerable time addressing the conduct of UMNO Youth chief, Akmal Saleh. While Ahmad Zahid maintained that UMNO would remain in the Unity Government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Akmal had suggested that the party consider quitting. Despite the clash of wills, it is likely that Ahmad Zahid’s position will hold out in the end.

UMNO Youth had been making their voices heard even before party delegates were due to meet. On 3 January, they organised a special convention to vent their displeasure regarding UMNO’s role in the Unity Government. Akmal called on the party leadership to take UMNO out of the Unity Government without toppling it. If all 25 UMNO MPs leave the ruling coalition, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim would continue to hold a majority of about 120 out of 222 seats in Parliament. On 15 January, during the UMNO Youth assembly, Akmal dramatically resigned from the executive committee of the Malacca state government. His message to the party was unequivocal: that he walked the talk of severing all collaboration with the Democratic Action Party (DAP), another constituent member of the Unity Government.

During his keynote address on 16 January, Ahmad Zahid explained why the party should remain in alliance with its nemesis, the DAP, in the Unity Government. He also reiterated UMNO’s mission to safeguard Malay interests and called for party unity. In the past, Ahmad Zahid had declared that UMNO would not work with Anwar and the DAP. Now, however, he is saying the UMNO-DAP alliance is “God’s will” and that his previous “No Anwar, No DAP” line should no longer be politicised. Although the UMNO grassroots understood the rationale for the party’s ongoing collaboration with DAP — it was the King who proposed the Unity Government after the 2022 elections led to a hung parliament — they question whether this partnership should endure into the next general election. Some Malays blame several DAP leaders for undermining Malay interests. Moreover, contesting the next election with its partners in the Unity Government weakens UMNO’s position in seat negotiations. UMNO may have to sacrifice its traditional constituencies to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) and the DAP.

In his closing remarks, Ahmad Zahid invoked his authority as UMNO president, referred to Akmal as his “naughty son” but urged him not to make any missteps. The uneasy relationship between Ahmad Zahid and Akmal underscores a deep-seated wedge within UMNO. UMNO Deputy President Mohamad Hassan praised Akmal and urged him to continue speaking up. Akmal was also strategic in rallying Ahmad Zahid’s rivals. For instance, Akmal invited suspended member Khairy Jamaluddin to attend the youth convention in his capacity as former UMNO Youth chief. Khairy said he was touched by the invitation but had sought Zahid’s approval before attending. The Khairy play was an UMNO Youth move to cock a snook at the president.

For now, UMNO Youth is unlikely to move the needle regarding UMNO’s status in the Unity Government.

Despite UMNO Youth’s rallying behind Akmal, it remains a tall order to convince the party leadership to switch course. Ahmad Zahid continues to have the support of the Supreme Council, with his challengers having been purged from the party. He also continues to have the backing of Prime Minister Anwar, with whom he has a decades-old relationship. Moreover, the UMNO elections have been postponed and will not happen until the next general election.

UMNO Youth has mainly fulfilled its role by drawing the party’s red lines for its partners: never undermine Malay interests, the sanctity of Islam, and the position of the Malay rulers. Akmal is merely following his predecessor’s playbook by being a troublemaker and inflammatory in his declarations. In August last year, Akmal organised a march to protest an incident in which an upside-down flag was displayed at a hardware store in Penang.

Ahmad Zahid should be familiar with UMNO Youth’s conduct, having played that role in the past, as did Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy Jamaluddin. In 1997, Ahmad Zahid disassociated himself from UMNO Johor Youth rather than outrightly condemning them. They had conducted a protest march which soured Singapore-Malaysia ties. They held up placards with insulting words such as “senile”, “pig”, “ghost”, and “illegitimate child” against Singaporean founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Mr Lee had made a private remark about the prevalence of crime in Johor. Ahmad Zahid later apologised after Mr Lee had apologised. In 2005, Hishammuddin brandished a keris (Malay dagger) during the UMNO assembly to demonstrate Malay supremacy amid perceived threats from other communities. Khairy was the deputy youth chief when the infamous incident happened in 2005.

For now, UMNO Youth is unlikely to move the needle regarding UMNO’s status in the Unity Government. Still, however, it remains by tradition the rebellious wing within UMNO. It might rouse the grassroots to help UMNO revive all-Malay-Islam unity with Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS), the conservative Islamic party, under the now-defunct Muafakat Nasional (MN) manifesto. UMNO Youth’s actions also serve as a warning to DAP, PKR and Amanah that UMNO is not a pushover, and that it still holds the key to the Malay heartlands. Akmal is also not averse to the MN suggestion; in fact he is already promoting the narrative that UMNO should ally with PAS again.

With PAS’ relationship with the Malay nationalist party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia at its lowest ebb, UMNO can easily revive the MN idea again. A revived MN would dent Anwar’s plans to seek an outright second term, as he is still struggling to solidify his Malay/ Muslim base in rural areas. As for Akmal, his resignation from the Malacca state government is inconsequential for his position in UMNO, for he remains UMNO Youth chief. It signals “sacrifice” and his standing firm for the Malays against the DAP. Still, it appears that Ahmad Zahid’s position is holding fast.

2026/21