UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is ready to face any challengers for the party top post.

Zahid, who is a deputy prime minister, said the around 160,000 delegates must be allowed to choose the party leadership, especially for their president and deputy president.

He said it is up to Umno members to determine the direction of the party to ensure that the party remains relevant.

“Absolute power (lies in the) epresentatives who represent their branches and divisions throughout the country,” he said, when asked if the party’s two top positions would be contested in the upcoming election, which should be held no more than six months after the general election (GE).

In the 2018 elections, Zahid was elected president after defeating his two challengers, Khairy Jamaluddin and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. He obtained 93 votes and Khairy (51) and Tengku Razaleigh (23).

“In the previous election (2018), I was challenged by two party members, but the result was in my favour. Not to be arrogant or boastful, but this was proven in 2018,” he said.

On whether if the party would invite any of the coalition parties in the unity government to attend the Umno general assembly on January 11, Zahid said no.

The meeting was scheduled to take place on December 21-24 but was postponed. – Bernama, January 1, 2023.