Tok Mat: Umno wants early GE16, but alliances to vary by state

UMNO AGM | Umno is pushing to hold the 16th general election early so voters can give a fresh mandate on the country’s political direction, although the final decision rests with the government.

Party deputy president Mohamad Hasan said political parties would naturally seek a new mandate after several years into a parliamentary term.

“It has now been more than three years (since this term began).

“Usually, the mood to set an election in motion tends to emerge after three years. Whether it is held or not is up to them, because political parties will always want to seek a fresh mandate from the people.

“Umno, as one of the political parties that also has a stake in the country’s politics, wants to obtain a fresh mandate from the people,” the foreign minister said.

Mohamad said this during a visit to the media centre at the 2026 Umno general assembly at the Kuala Lumpur World Trade Centre today.

The Rembau MP said calls for an early election should be viewed in the context of letting voters decide the government and the political direction they want.

However, he also said the election date would ultimately depend on prevailing political and administrative developments.

Several Umno leaders have called for GE16 to be brought forward, including party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who said in his policy speech yesterday that voters should have the opportunity to decide which government they want.

'State-by-state approach'

As Umno begins positioning itself for upcoming elections, Mohamad also said no single formula would govern the party’s political cooperation with other parties nationwide.

“There is no one-size-fits-all,” he said.

Mohamad also said political conditions and relations between parties differed from state to state, meaning any cooperation would have to be tailored to local circumstances.

The issue has come into focus in Kedah, where Umno grassroots indicated a preference for direct talks with PAS over electoral cooperation with Perikatan Nasional as a whole.

Merbok Umno division chief Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin (above), while debating Zahid’s policy speech, said Kedah Umno wanted to begin discussions directly with PAS.

“Kedah Umno recently decided that we will begin discussions with PAS. We will start sitting down with PAS over coffee, but not with PN,” he said.

Shaiful also mocked Wawasan Negara’s entry into PN, calling it a “cat party” in reference to its small size.

‘Top leadership has final say’

Responding to Kedah Umno’s position, Mohamad said state leaders were free to explore possible arrangements, but any final agreement would still require scrutiny by the party’s central leadership.

“Let them hold whatever discussions they want at the state level and whatever talks they wish to have.

“However, they need to bring it to the attention of headquarters, and when the time comes, the management at headquarters will scrutinise whatever negotiations and discussions have taken place,” he said.

The approach comes amid signs that Umno and PAS leaders in Kedah are leaving room for closer cooperation ahead of future state and general elections.

Elsewhere, BN and PN cooperated in the recent Negeri Sembilan state election, an arrangement that helped the two blocs win enough seats to wrest control of the state from Pakatan Harapan.

Mohamad, however, stressed that an arrangement that worked in one state should not automatically be replicated elsewhere, and that Umno should instead weigh the political dynamics and relationships on the ground before deciding on electoral cooperation.

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