KUALA LUMPUR, September 11 2026, The principle of Pribumi centrality must be upheld as an important trust to ensure stability and harmonious relations among the various races in the country, said UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Ahmad Zahid said this concept, founded on a sense of trust and responsibility, is a key principle that distinguishes the party’s inclusive leadership from the practice of political domination.
He said the approach upheld by UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) is based on efforts to build the confidence of people from all races to move forward together on the basis of mutual respect.
“We must strengthen our understanding and appreciation that (the principle of) Pribumi centrality is a trust that must be upheld to ensure stability and harmonious relations among the various races.
“This trust is what distinguishes leadership from domination. Domination seeks to make others submit, while leadership gives others the confidence to walk together. That is the true meaning of centrality in a plural society,” he said.
He said this when delivering his presidential address at the 2026 UMNO General Assembly at the World Trade Centre (WTC) here today.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said close cooperation with component parties such as MCA, MIC, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and Friends of BN further strengthens the power-sharing formula that has long been endorsed.
According to him, UMNO remains committed to upholding Islam and the Bumiputera agenda without suppressing the rights of other communities or the uniqueness of Sabah and Sarawak.
“I want Malays to be strong without others living in fear, and for Islam to continue to be upheld without other religions feeling threatened. I want UMNO to be the core of Malay political strength, but to be big-hearted enough to share power,” he said.
-BERNAMA
