KUALA LUMPUR — Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, president of Umno and Barisan Nasional, issued an ultimatum on Sunday, challenging those who seek to remove his coalition from the unity government formed in 2023. Speaking at the closing session of the 2026 Umno General Assembly, Ahmad Zahid emphasized that the coalition’s support was instrumental in enabling Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become Prime Minister.

Addressing party loyalists, Ahmad Zahid stressed that the unity government was established due to Umno’s backing, which provided a stable majority in Parliament. He recalled that the coalition initially commanded the support of 112 lawmakers, comprising 82 from Pakatan Harapan and 30 from Umno. However, he noted that Pakatan has since lost three MPs—Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, and Wong Chen—potentially reducing the government’s parliamentary majority.

"If we are told to leave, it logically follows that the number of supporters they originally had will also decrease,” Ahmad Zahid said, underscoring the risk to the coalition’s position. He insisted that if the coalition’s role in government is to be terminated, then a fresh electoral mandate must be sought, either through an early general election or a formal vote of no confidence.

“There are only two options. Either obtain a fresh mandate through a general election, or officially remove us and table a vote of no confidence,” he said, before calling on Parliament to be dissolved promptly, a call met with enthusiastic endorsement from the delegates.

Ahmad Zahid further clarified that Umno and Barisan Nasional joined the unity government to promote political stability and to serve the interests of the people, but he warned that cooperation within the administration should not be misconstrued as sacrificing the party’s future. “Cooperation does not mean surrender. I repeat,” he said, drawing laughter from the assembly and alluding to prior comments by the Prime Minister.

Following the assembly, Ahmad Zahid held a press conference to unveil the Blue Malaysia Agenda, which will form a cornerstone of Barisan Nasional’s manifesto for the next general election. The agenda outlines a vision for Malaysia’s development as it approaches its centennial independence anniversary.

He stated that the agenda would be finalized after consultations with component parties of Barisan and its allied groups, collectively known as Friends of Barisan, before being officially adopted as the coalition’s manifesto. Ahmad Zahid indicated the agenda aims to guide Malaysia’s future should the coalition regain governance in Putrajaya.

The president’s remarks come amid ongoing tensions within the unity government and increasing calls by some factions for Barisan Nasional to step aside, raising questions about the coalition’s future role in Malaysian politics.