Malaysia’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has called for immediate national elections, signaling deepening tensions within Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s ruling alliance. UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said elections should be held 'as soon as possible' at the party’s annual meeting, stating the general election is the defining moment to regain the mandate to lead. Zahid, who is Anwar’s deputy prime minister, remarked that UMNO may not continue its alliance with Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan beyond the current term.

Relations have deteriorated after UMNO-led Barisan Nasional competed against Pakatan in two state polls, with Zahid calling Anwar 'teacher' and saying, 'We can do better than the teacher.' Barisan, which previously dominated Malaysian politics for over six decades before losing power in 2018, hinted at a potential alliance with opposition bloc Perikatan Nasional, led by Islamist party Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS). Zahid spoke of a grand collaboration for Malay unity, noting Barisan and Perikatan control the vast majority of votes from the Malay ethnic group, which makes up two-thirds of the population. He also called for a return of the goods and services tax, which Anwar has opposed, and urged authorities not to use power to 'intimidate and bully others.' On Thursday, Zahid expressed hope for a pardon for ex-Prime Minister Najib Razak, jailed over the 1MDB scandal; on Friday, the Malaysian king deferred a clemency decision.

Barisan holds 30 parliamentary seats, and its exit could strip Anwar of his supermajority, though not his simple majority to remain in power.