WARM WELCOME: Umno president and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi received a warm welcome by party delegates at the DAP Party Conference 2023 in Putrajaya on Sunday. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
PUTRAJAYA: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made history by becoming the party's first ever leader to attend DAP's annual conference, overcoming decades of rivalry between the two parties.
The Barisan Nasional chairman, joined by Barisan secretary-general Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir and Umno Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki as the three were clad in Barisan's signature blue uniforms and entered the halls on Sunday (Sept 10).
Following Ahmad Zahid's arrival, the announcement of his name was greeted by massive cheers and applause from the hundreds of DAP delegates present at the hall.
WARM WELCOME. Umno president cum Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi received a warm welcome by party secretary general Anthony Loke and chairman Lim Guan Eng at the DAP Party Conference 2023 in Putrajaya on Sunday. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star
Ahmad Zahid was invited to the conference as a guest of honour by DAP.
Ahmad Zahid's appearance represents the first-ever attendance of top Umno leaders at a DAP event as the two parties have been bitter rivals since DAP's founding in 1965 up until November last year following the formation of the unity government after the 15th general election.
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DAP had invited all parties under the unity government to their annual conference this year but Muda was noticeably absent from the event.
Other top leaders spotted at the event included fellow Pakatan Harapan component parties, PKR vice-president Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, PKR deputy president Mohd Rafizi Ramli and Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.
