Anwar dismisses KJ’s claims of strained relations with Zahid

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dismissed claims that his relationship with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had strained, reaffirming that ties between them remained strong at the national level. The PKR president clarified that Khairy Jamaluddin's perspective on his relationship with Umno president was personal and influenced by a conflict-driven view of politics.

Anwar, in contrast, approaches matters with a peaceful outlook. He emphasized this difference at the 2026 PKR National Congress in Melaka, stating that while they are different, he advocates for peace while Khairy takes a conflict approach. Earlier in his policy speech, Anwar thanked Zahid and Umno for contributing to cooperation within the unity government; however, he acknowledged some disagreements at the state level as normal.

Former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin, in a recent Keluar Sekejap podcast, claimed trust between Anwar and Zahid had reached its lowest point since the unity government's inception in 2022, attributing this to the BN's decision to ally with Perikatan Nasional for the Negri Sembilan elections.