UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said there was a possibility of the people rejecting the government led by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad within the next two years.

He said there would be an uprising caused by Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim, who had previously been promised that he would succeed Dr Mahathir as the eighth prime minister.

“People will rise. They do not have to wait until the next general election. Port Dickson (Anwar) was promised (the prime ministership) in two years, and six months have already passed.

“We have another year-and-a-half. If Anwar is not made prime minister, he will surely raise a ruckus. I know him. I used to be his close friend,” Zahid said in his speech at an Umno meeting held at Kampung Bertam Hulu in Malacca today.

Dr Mahathir’s party, Bersatu, only obtained 13 parliamentary seats in the election, far less than PKR which controls 49 parliamentary seats, while DAP has 42 seats.

Bersatu chief strategist Rais Hussin had also previously admitted that there was a movement from supporters of Dr Mahathir and Anwar to thwart the power transition process.

Some supporters were said to be in backroom talks with Umno, which currently controls 49 seats.

According to Zahid, negotiations with any party are not Umno’s main agenda at the moment, but efforts to strengthen the party are far more important.

“The important thing is that before anyone wants to negotiate with us, we must ensure that the party is strong, united, and ensure that our vessel is not punctured from within,” he said.

The opposition leader also expressed disappointment with certain Umno youth leaders who had asked him to take leave after being charged with 45 criminal charges in court.

“Make sure the captain keeps leading this vessel. This new captain faces a bit of problem, and already there are calls for him to go on holiday.

“If I’m on holiday, it’s not impossible that after that, the deputy president will also be requested to go on leave. What would happen if all the leaders are on holiday? He (unnamed political opponent) is attacking us from within.

“He attacks us from the outside. I refused to jump (leave the party). He calls for the party to be dissolved. He attacks us from within.

“I forgive the youth (leaders) and I welcome differences of opinions,” Zahid said, not naming the political opponent who allegedly was attacking Umno from the outside and within.

It was, however, previously reported that Dr Mahathir had admitted to asking Zahid to dissolve the party.

The Bersatu chairman had said he did so because Umno no longer represented its original principles and struggles.

“Honestly, Umno no longer exists. It is just a registered party; its principles and struggles are no longer there,” Dr Mahathir had said in a video uploaded on his Facebook page. – November 11, 2018.