KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reiterated his call for parliament to be dissolved to pave the way for the 15th General Election (GE15), as well as cautioning on the need to "identify enemies from within."
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is also Umno vice-president, must understand the necessity to hold a general election soon.
Zahid, who is Umno president, said doing so would help BN and Umno with the "cleanup" process.
"I agree that parliament must be dissolved immediately. The mandate must be returned to the people but I don't have the power to do so, only he (Ismail Sabri) can.
"It is easier to identify an enemy from outside BN but it's not easy to identify one within.
"We must clean things up. We must be able to identify the enemies as swiftly as we can.
"Don't worry, it won't be long. Everything will be cleaned up. But for the sake of the party, I will not take revenge on anyone.
"I can tell friends from foes. Within the circle of friends, there are enemies and within the circle of enemies there are friends," he said when officiating Makkal Sakthi's 14th General Assembly at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur here today.
Zahid also dismissed claims that Umno was turning into a political party that serves to protect one personality in the form of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is serving jail time for corruption.
"Bossku (Najib) is only a symbol of what we are fighting for. Bossku's spirit is present in BN. We are not fighting for just one person. After a 46-year political career, how can we say he didn't contribute anything? Impossible."