KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said new Malay-based political parties were welcome, provided they helped unite rather than further divide the community.

Speaking after the Majlis Zikir Peringatan Haul Asmaulhusna 2026 at Masjid Sultan Iskandar in Bandar Dato' Onn, Johor Bahru, today, the Barisan Nasional chairman said any individual or political figure was free to establish a new party as long as it helped unite Malays rather than deepen existing divisions.

"We welcome any individual or figure, on the condition that we unite our thinking and do not continue to be divided among ourselves.

"Whatever platform is used, if in the end we are able to unite our actions around the national agenda, t...