Speaking at the Umno general assembly today, Zahid told the delegates that the party’s opponents “have never stopped trying to destroy us”.

“I believe they accept us because they know that’s the way they can kill us,” he said.

“They never liked us. Read the constitution of each of our opposing parties. Be aware! You are sleeping with your enemies. They keep daggers in our blankets. Do we want to renew the MoU?”

He said he would “leave it to the wisdom of the prime minister” on this matter.

Last week, DAP organising secretary Loke Siew Fook called on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to extend the MoU, which is to end on July 31, to postpone the general election until after the current parliamentary session ends on Dec 15.

Ismail, an Umno vice-president, later said he would consider Loke’s suggestion.

PH signed the MoU with Ismail last September to restore political stability following a change of government.

Loke made the call to renew the MoU during a Dewan Rakyat sitting last Thursday, in which he told Ismail not to heed calls by Zahid for a general election.

Making his presidential address at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur this morning, Zahid said Umno upholds the Federal Constitution, and the party understands that the decision to dissolve Parliament – which must be done before a general election – lies with the prime minister, who must first receive the consent of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“We don’t want to interfere in this,” he said. “But as a responsible party, Umno has to set its own direction.”

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