Zahid calls for trust to translate into votes, hints at 'Blue Wave'

KUALA LUMPUR - Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged Malaysians to trust the nation's leaders, stating that translating that trust into votes would lead to a new "Blue Wave." As the Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, Zahid emphasized that Malaysia has always built its leadership on trust, now urging the public to convert that trust into strong partnerships, increased votes, and a burgeoning "Blue Wave."

The deputy prime minister closed the 2026 World Islamic Tourism and Trade Expo (WITEX) at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, quipping that if his listeners understood, great; if not, that was fine too. The Blue Wave reference came after the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition secured a landslide victory in the Johor state election, winning 48 out of 56 seats, while the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition took 8, and the Pasukan Nasional (PN) failed to win any.

Zahid noted that the recent Johor and Negri Sembilan election results bolstered the momentum of the "blue" and "dark blue" political waves, which originated in Johor, respectively. The expo, according to him, should be a platform for connecting markets, fostering opportunities, and shaping the future of the global Muslim travel economy. Zahid closed with a call to all attendees to visit Malaysia and, more importantly, to collaborate and build with the nation.