Zahid tells parties to park PM talk, focus on Melaka polls instead

ISKANDAR PUTERI, Sept 6 — Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today urged political parties to put talk of who could become prime minister after the 16th general election aside for now, saying the focus should instead be on the upcoming Melaka state election.

The Umno president said it was too early to name or discuss a potential prime ministerial candidate when the timing of Parliament’s dissolution and the next general election remained unknown, Harian Metro reported.

“It is too early to put forward someone or a particular figure to hold that position because the election could still be far away or it could be otherwise.

“We do not know when Parliament will be dissolved. I think it is better that we put that aside for now and focus on facing the Melaka state election,” he was quoted as saying after the closing of the 2026 National Orang Asli Sports Carnival at the EduCity Sports Complex here.

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said attention should remain on the Melaka election before any discussions on federal-level political matters take place.

On cooperation among political parties for the Melaka election, he said this would only be decided after the Melaka Legislative Assembly was dissolved.

His remarks came after PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said the party had a potential prime ministerial candidate from among its leaders for GE16, but that it was not yet time to reveal the individual.

He made the remarks at  PAS’ annual congress in Kota Bharu, Kelantan last Friday.