Tag: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

Khairy To Focus On Returning To UMNO, Still Early For Seat Discussion

KEPALA BATAS, April 11 -- Former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin's main focus at the moment is on his application to rejoin the party. Therefore, he described any discussion about the seat to be contested in the upcoming general election (GE) as too early. "I think it is too early for us to discuss where to contest (because) I am just in the process of returning, so the matter is not appropriate to discuss," he told reporters after attending the Aidilfitri Open House of Bertam assemblyman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican here tonight. After three years of being expelled from UMNO, Khairy submitted an appeal letter to return to UMNO on March 15. UMNO vice president Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin previously said that the applications of several former UMNO leaders including Sembrong MP Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Khairy to rejoin the party would be discussed at the UMNO Supreme Council Meeting (MT) on April 17 based on the spirit of "Rumah Bangsa". Khairy said the determination of candidates and seat distribution by Barisan Nasional (BN) was under the jurisdiction of its chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who is also UMNO president, hence he did not want to preempt any party decisions. Meanwhile, he said that the wish of former Prime Minister the late Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who is also a former Kepala Batas MP for the parliamentary seat to continue to be led by an individual he trusted, namely Reezal Merican who is now the chairman of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE), should be respected. “During his lifetime, Pak Lah had advised both of us, me as his son-in-law and Reezal Merican as his political son, to let Reezal take care of Kepala Batas. “So, I will not disrespect his decision and wish. I hope that Reezal Merican will succeed in the GE and be able to reclaim the Kepala Batas parliamentary seat,” he said. In the 15th GE, Reezal Merican failed to defend his Kepala Batas parliamentary seat when he lost to Perikan Nasional (PN) candidate Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad with a majority of 2,867 votes.

KEPALA BATAS, April 11 — Former UMNO Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s main focus at the moment is on his application to rejoin the party. Therefore, he described any discussion about the seat to be contested in the upcoming general election (GE) as too early. “I think it is too early for us to discuss where […]

UMNO Among ASEAN’s Oldest Political Parties As It Turns 80 – Ahmad Zahid

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 -- UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said UMNO, which is approaching its 80th anniversary, remains one of the oldest political parties in the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) region, with a legacy of struggle that reflects resilience and a key role in national development. The Deputy Prime Minister said that throughout its long history, UMNO has undergone various phases of struggle and shifts in the political landscape, reflecting its experience, resilience and key role in national development. "As time passes, efforts to produce capable leaders are very important to ensure the continuity of the struggle and remain relevant in the future," he posted on Facebook today. Ahmad Zahid, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, posted this in conjunction with UMNO's 80th anniversary. According to the post, UMNO, which was founded in 1946, will reach eight decades this year, putting it on par with several long-established political parties in ASEAN, including Thailand's Democrat Party, as well as Singapore's People's Action Party, which is 70 years old, and Indonesia's Golkar Party, which is 60 years old.

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said UMNO, which is approaching its 80th anniversary, remains one of the oldest political parties in the Southeast Asian (ASEAN) region, with a legacy of struggle that reflects resilience and a key role in national development. The Deputy Prime Minister said that […]

Malaysia–Brunei Strengthen Disaster Management Cooperation- Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

PUTRAJAYA, 10 APRIL -- Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in disaster management following a high-level meeting in Putrajaya yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he received a courtesy call from Brunei’s Minister of Home Affairs, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, who is currently leading a delegation on a working visit to Malaysia. According to Zahid, the meeting provided a meaningful platform to enhance collaboration between Malaysia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and Brunei’s National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC). Discussions focused on expanding cooperation in expertise sharing, capacity building, and the implementation of joint disaster response exercises. He also highlighted Malaysia’s recent establishment of the National Disaster Management Council (MPBN), which was approved by the Cabinet to improve coordination at the national level. In addition, Zahid emphasised ongoing initiatives such as National Preparedness Month, aimed at fostering a culture of disaster readiness among the public. Malaysia, he said, remains committed to supporting Brunei’s efforts to obtain international recognition under the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG). This includes continued assistance from Malaysia’s Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), particularly in enhancing urban search and rescue (USAR) capabilities. Both countries agreed to further strengthen joint training programmes and cross-border coordination, including the development of clearer standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure faster and more coordinated responses during disasters, especially in border areas. “Insya-Allah, this close cooperation will continue to grow stronger,” Zahid said, adding that the next NADMA-NDMC bilateral meeting is scheduled to take place in Langkawi next July. -- Minutes MY / Igneseous Noris -- Photo: FB Zahid Hamidi

PUTRAJAYA, 10 APRIL — Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in disaster management following a high-level meeting in Putrajaya yesterday. Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he received a courtesy call from Brunei’s Minister of Home Affairs, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji […]

Cloud seeding operations in Kedah and Perlis successful, to continue in Perak today

PUTRAJAYA: The cloud seeding operation (OPA) carried out yesterday was categorised as successful when data from observation stations and Malaysia's MyRAE MET system showed significant rainfall in two states, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He, who is also the Chairman of the Central Disaster Management Committee (JPBP), said data in Perlis showed rainfall ranging from 10 millimetres (mm) to 45 mm from 7 to 8 pm, while in Kedah it recorded between 6 mm to 57.4 mm from 7 to 10 pm. "This success proves that implementing OPA under suitable atmospheric conditions is very effective in addressing the issue of water shortage in critical catchment areas." "This is an intervention measure to increase rainfall in the dam catchment area which has been affected by dry weather and lack of rain over the past few weeks," he said in a statement today. OPA is focusing on 11 major dams in the alert, warning and critical categories involving three states in the north, namely Perak, Kedah and Perlis, as well as one area in the south of the peninsula, namely Johor, from April 6 to 8. Ahmad Zahid said the OPA would continue today, targeting the Temenggor and Bukit Merah Dam catchment areas in Perak. Regarding yesterday's OPA which targeted the catchment areas of the Muda, Pedu and Ahning Dams in Kedah and the Timah Tasoh Dam in Perlis, he said the technique used was to spray a salt solution into the cumulus tower cloud formation using a C130-Hercules aircraft belonging to the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). "During the operation, meteorological analysis showed the presence of very active convective and cumulus tower clouds in the target zone. "The operational effectiveness factor is also supported by high atmospheric moisture content and unstable atmospheric conditions, which technically drive the growth of rain clouds more efficiently after the seeding process is carried out," he said. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, said such integrated efforts proved that preparedness, science-based action and continuous efforts could be the main bulwark in facing the challenges of climate change and weather uncertainty. He also assured that the government would continue to strengthen such proactive approaches to ensure the security of water supply, the well-being of the people and the sustainability of the country's agricultural sector.

PUTRAJAYA: The cloud seeding operation (OPA) carried out yesterday was categorised as successful when data from observation stations and Malaysia’s MyRAE MET system showed significant rainfall in two states, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He, who is also the Chairman of the Central Disaster Management Committee (JPBP), said data in Perlis […]

Product Diversification Key to Strengthening Halal Industry- Datuk Seri Dr. Zahid Hamidi

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasised the importance of product diversification in empowering Malaysia’s halal industry following his visit to the Al-Meswak Mu’min Factory. The visit took place after the groundbreaking ceremony of the PERDA Halal Park, where Zahid observed first-hand the role of industry players in supporting the nation’s halal ecosystem. He expressed satisfaction with the factory’s progress, noting that it has responded well to the government’s call to expand halal offerings beyond traditional food and beverage products. “I am pleased to see developments like this. The factory has clearly embraced efforts to diversify halal products into other high-potential segments,” he said in a statement. Zahid stressed that the halal industry must continue to evolve in a broader and more innovative direction to remain competitive and penetrate larger global markets. “This is the direction we must take — a more dynamic and forward-looking halal industry,” he added. He also highlighted the importance of close collaboration between industry players and government agencies to ensure continued growth and global reach for local halal products. “Insya-Allah, through strong cooperation, our local halal products will be able to go further and compete internationally. Let us continue to support locally produced halal goods,” he said. --Minutes MY / Igneseous Noris --Photo: FB Zahid Hamidi

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 — Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi emphasised the importance of product diversification in empowering Malaysia’s halal industry following his visit to the Al-Meswak Mu’min Factory. The visit took place after the groundbreaking ceremony of the PERDA Halal Park, where Zahid observed first-hand the role of industry players in supporting the […]

Government Moves to Strengthen Bumiputera Economic Resilience Amid Global Uncertainty

KUALA LUMPUR — The government is stepping up efforts to strengthen the resilience of the Bumiputera economy in response to ongoing global uncertainties, through a series of strategic measures and immediate actions. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the matter was discussed during the Steering Committee Meeting of the Bumiputera Economic Council (MEB) No. 1/2026, which he chaired earlier today. He noted that the meeting focused on ensuring the Bumiputera economy remains resilient and continues to grow despite current economic challenges. “To achieve this, three key actions have been identified for immediate implementation,” he said. The first involves conducting a comprehensive assessment across critical sectors to better understand the real impact on the ground. Secondly, the government will introduce targeted interventions, including more flexible financing options, cost-related incentives, and efforts to strengthen local supply chains to support Bumiputera businesses. The third measure emphasizes firm and accountable execution without delay, supported by close monitoring to ensure the effectiveness of all initiatives. At the same time, PM Anwar Ibrahim stressed that long-term strategies must not be overlooked. These include accelerating digitalisation, empowering young entrepreneurs, and expanding into new markets to enhance competitiveness and self-reliance. He expressed confidence that with well-coordinated planning and strong collaboration among all stakeholders, the Bumiputera economy will remain robust and well-prepared to face future challenges. --Minutes MY / Igneseous Noris --Photo: FB Zahid Hamidi

KUALA LUMPUR — The government is stepping up efforts to strengthen the resilience of the Bumiputera economy in response to ongoing global uncertainties, through a series of strategic measures and immediate actions. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the matter was discussed during the Steering Committee Meeting of the Bumiputera Economic Council (MEB) No. 1/2026, which […]