DEPUTY Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and top Umno leaders received a warm welcome by the delegates at DAP’s 2023 National Convention today – a scenario unimaginable just a year ago.

DAP national chairman Lim Guan Eng said the Umno president’s presence the party’s convention would not have been possible last year.

“We are now together, to uphold the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s decree for a unity government to be established after the 15th general election (GE15) to take care of the people and the country.

“From enemies to friends, as long as the people can be happy,” the Bagan lawmaker said in his opening speech at the convention in Putrajaya today, to thunderous applause.

The conference is being held against a backdrop of the unity government’s first victory for a federal parliament seat since its formation.

Suhaizan Kaiat’s Pulai parliamentary seat victory makes him the first MP to be elected under the Pakatan Haparan (PH)-Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance, which is part of the unity government.

PH retained the seat it had won in GE15 after Suhaizan scored a thumping 18,641-vote majority, polling 48,283 votes in a three-cornered contest.

Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) Zulkifli polled 29,642 votes while Independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi received 528.

The PH-BN coalition also retained the Simpang Jeram state seat.

Its candidate Nazri Abdul Rahman won with a majority of 3,514 votes, defeating Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya of PN and Independent candidate S. Jeganathan.

Zahid is the first leader from the country’s biggest Malay party to attend the DAP National Convention. 

Zahid, once a DAP nemesis, was seen together with BN secretary-general Zambry Abdul Kadir and  Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki at the annual meeting today.

Pakatan Harapan and BN formed the unity government after the 2022 general election following a hung parliament.

Among others seen at the convention are Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari, Amanah vice-president Mujahid Yusof Rawa and PKR vice-president Saraswathy Kandasamy. – September 10, 2023.