'I was never his student,' says Zahid in apparent Anwar jibe

Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently made a sarcastic remark during his winding-up speech at the 2026 Umno General Assembly, stating that he was never his political rival Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's student. This remark came after Zahid had previously used a teacher and student analogy to describe their relationship.

Zahid argued that someone with abilities and experience did not need to continue relying on a teacher. He emphasized that a smart student does not require a teacher. The remark was made as Zahid discussed Umno's position and direction, which he said had its own identity, principles, and strengths. Earlier, in his presidential policy speech, Zahid criticized an unnamed individual for not listening to the people's grievances and concerns.

He highlighted the economic policies' impact on ordinary people and encouraged young people to have confidence in sharing their ideas. Anwar Ibrahim, the Prime Minister, responded to Zahid's comments using the same references to "teacher" and "slay," which were previously used by the Umno president. Anwar was in New Delhi attending the 18th BRICS Summit when he posted about his diplomatic mission on Facebook.