Fail GE14 divine test and sign death warrant, Zahid warns Umno delegates

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has issued an ominous warning to Umno delegates with regard to the coming general election.

The Umno deputy president cautioned that another electoral setback would be akin to Umno and BN signing their own death warrant.

He said following BN's landslide triumph in the 11th general election, the coalition was subjected to two subsequent divine tests in the 12th and 13th general elections.

In the 2008 general election, BN lost its two-thirds parliamentary majority for the first time since independence as well as several states, including Selangor, which was regarded as its stronghold.

The results led to the prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's exit and Najib Abdul Razak took over the leadership reins.

Najib, however, failed to reverse BN's fortunes. This time around, the coalition also lost the popular vote.

"God tested us twice. If we fail in the third test, then 'tempahlah maut sendiri' (sign your own death warrant). Umno and BN will only be recorded in the history books,” said Zahid.

He was speaking to Umno delegates at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur ahead of the party's 71st annual general assembly.

Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said in order to avoid political doom, Umno and BN must close ranks.

"We need to unite our teams as well as the Umno and BN machinery.

“We need to work hard to strengthen the party machinery and Umno's information machinery at the grassroots level," he added.

Najib, who is also Umno president, has repeatedly stressed that the coalition should reclaim its two-thirds parliamentary majority in the coming national polls.

The 71st Umno annual general assembly would be the last before the 14th general election, where Umno would face a new political foe in the form of its former president of two decades Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Parliament would expire in June if a general election is not called earlier. An election must be held within 60 days from the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat.- Mkini