Zahid: Don't label treasonous, rude before understanding Constitution

AYER KEROH, MELAKA INTERNATIONAL TRADE CENTRE (MITC), 26 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi urged political actors and the public to refrain from labeling actions as "rebellion" or "barbaric" until they have fully comprehended the constitutional status of the monarchy and state institutions. Speaking in Ayer Keroh, the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and UMNO president emphasized that disputes involving the Sultanate and state administration must be evaluated based on the specific responsibilities and rights guaranteed to all citizens under the Federal Constitution and the State Constitutions.

Zahid Hamidi stated that UMNO consistently upholds the institution of the King and constitutional order, including the respect for the clemency powers of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Malay Rulers as stipulated in the Constitution. He described the current political climate as one where the "clarity" of constitutional roles is being obscured by partisan labeling. "Do not label rebellion and barbarism before understanding the facts of the matter," he said. "The task of key leadership is to clarify confusion with knowledge and wisdom while preserving the dignity of institutions, not to speak from a moving train and lash out without etiquette or civilization." He added that this understanding does not grow spontaneously but must be cultivated through education and reinforced in community life as reflected by leadership.

The forum also served as a platform to redefine the historical narrative of the Malay Archipelago, challenging the common perception that Malaysian history begins with colonialism. Zahid Hamidi argued that the history of the land was established long before the era of the Malacca Sultanate, pointing to archaeological and historical evidence from Kedah Tua, the Bujang Valley, and Sungai Batu. These sites, he noted, demonstrate trade activities, port operations, and iron production that flourished centuries earlier. He emphasized the need to instill "historical consciousness" in the younger generation to prevent the misreading of the past as if everything began with the arrival of colonizers. "The colonizers came to a land that already had history, not to a land that was just gaining history," he said.

In addressing the complexities of ethnic identity and migration, Zahid Hamidi cautioned against conflating ancient civilizations with modern ethnic definitions. He stated that human movements from centuries past cannot be used as a metric for modern citizenship or to label the Malay people as "immigrants" in Malaya. He explained that in the context of the Malay world, the migration of communities between regions must be understood through long-standing regional relationships. "We cannot use today's national borders to assess community migration in the past and then use it as an excuse to label the Malay race as 'immigrants' in Malaya," he said. This argument seeks to ground the concept of Malay identity in historical continuity rather than modern geopolitical boundaries.

The Deputy Prime Minister further clarified that acknowledging the historical roots of the Malay people does not require erasing the history of other communities, including the indigenous Orang Asli of the Peninsula. He advocated for a balanced approach where the nation is confident enough to defend its own history while remaining honest enough to recognize the heritage of others. This perspective aims to foster a unified national narrative that respects the multi-ethnic composition of Malaysia without diminishing the specific historical contributions of any single group.

Zahid Hamidi concluded by calling for the discourse generated by the National Musyawarah to translate into more effective action. He stressed that the goal is not merely academic debate but the practical application of constitutional and historical understanding to manage political differences. The event, held at the MITC, marked a significant moment in BN’s internal strategy to reassert its stance on constitutional monarchy and historical identity, positioning the party as a defender of institutional dignity against what it perceives as uncivilized political attacks.

The speech shows a broader effort within the ruling coalition to frame political opposition not as a legitimate challenge to policy, but as a failure of constitutional literacy and historical awareness. By linking the defense of the monarchy to the defense of historical truth, Zahid Hamidi sought to elevate the debate from partisan politics to a matter of national integrity. The emphasis on "historical consciousness" and the rejection of modern borders as tools for historical judgment reflects a strategic move to solidify the narrative of Malay indigenous rights and historical continuity in the face of contemporary political challenges.

As the National Musyawarah continues, the focus remains on translating these principles into tangible political and educational initiatives. Zahid Hamidi’s remarks serve as a directive for UMNO members and the wider BN coalition to adopt a tone of reasoned discourse in future engagements. The party’s leadership is tasked with ensuring that the "firmness" in defending principles is matched by the "wisdom" in managing differences, thereby preserving the stability of the constitutional order. This approach aims to mitigate the polarizing effects of recent political controversies by anchoring the discussion in established legal and historical frameworks.

The event at the Melaka International Trade Centre highlighted the intersection of historical scholarship and political strategy in Malaysia. By invoking specific archaeological sites like Sungai Batu and the Bujang Valley, the leadership provided concrete evidence to support their claims about the depth of local history. This move is intended to counter narratives that rely on colonial-era definitions of ethnicity and citizenship. The ultimate objective, as stated by Zahid Hamidi, is to cultivate a generation that understands the complexity of the nation’s past and applies that understanding to navigate current political and social challenges with greater maturity and respect for institutional norms.

Related: Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) · Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi