PUTRAJAYA: Those seeking to lead Umno are welcome to contest for the post in the party elections, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

The Umno president said although there are no polls in the upcoming party general assembly, he was prepared to take on challengers in the next one.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Deputy Prime Minister with the Rural Development portfolio, said he had fended off efforts to unseat him before.

“I am not being arrogant and had been challenged before.

“However, even the combined votes of my two opponents could not match my tally,” he told reporters after a gathering with Rural Development Ministry employees here yesterday.

In the 2018 party elections, Ahmad Zahid defeated Khairy Jamaluddin and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

He obtained 93 votes compared with Khairy (51) and Tengku Razaleigh (23).

The next Umno general assembly will be held from Jan 11 to 14.

There have been calls for Ahmad Zahid to step down after a dismal showing by Barisan Nasional in the 15th General Election, and he led the coalition into joining the unity government headed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

This was done despite an earlier Umno assembly resolution against working with Anwar and DAP.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid said it was up to Umno delegates to decide if its unity government ally Pakatan Harapan would be invited to the general assembly on Jan 11.

“There are over 160,000 Umno delegates from all the divisions and they have the absolute power to decide what goes on in our annual general assemblies,” Ahmad Zahid added.

At the same press conference, Ahmad Zahid refused to comment when asked about a rumoured “London Move”, which was said to be led by former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, and the “openness” of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin to work with any governing party.

“These are all rumours. I do not respond to rumours,” said Ahmad Zahid.