Zahid takes swipe at Pakatan petrol promise, blasts Budi95 policy flip‑flop, says Umno primed for GE16

KUALA LUMPUR, September 11 — The leader of Umno, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, criticized Pakatan Harapan’s promise to reduce petrol prices within 24 hours if they won the upcoming general election. Addressing the 2026 Umno General Assembly, Zahid emphasized that Umno is a forward-thinking party with a long-term vision for Malaysia, rather than one that merely focuses on surviving each election cycle.

"We are starting again after a fall," he remarked, pointing to Umno's poor performance in the 2018 general election (GE14). Asserting that Umno is ready to achieve another victory, Zahid stressed that the party would not make any unrealistic promises, warning against statements like "win today" that drew cheers of "fuel prices down" from the audience.

Similarly, Zahid took aim at the PH-led unity government's inconsistent policy regarding the Budi95 fuel quota subsidies. Initially, the government reduced the quota, then reinstated it to 300 litres, only to potentially withdraw it again ahead of the next general election. Zahid's comments, though not explicitly naming anyone, were widely interpreted as a veiled reference to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, suggesting that "guru" is not performing well. Zahid concluded by expressing hope that Umno would outperform "guru" in the upcoming election.