KUALA LUMPUR: Umno’s participation in the unity government will be explained to the party grassroots and delegates attending its annual general assembly.

The explanation will be done by party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at a closed-door session on Wednesday (Jan 11) starting at 3pm.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said this session would be the opportune time for the president to explain the party’s decision on this matter.

“The president will use this opportunity to bring up the topic.

“I believe he would rather explain it during this closed-door session as he can explain it at length rather than during his policy speech where he has to touch on other issues as well,” he told reporters after launching the media centre for the Umno general assembly.

The general assembly, which was initially scheduled in December, will be held from Wednesday till Saturday (Jan 14).

Ahmad believed that delegates looked forward to hearing the president’s explanation and expressed hope that they would relay the information to the grassroots on what had transpired leading to Umno’s participation in the unity government.

“Surely, party members are eager to know why the Umno leadership made this decision,” he said.

After the 15th General Election, in which no coalition had the majority of seats needed to form the government, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong decreed that a unity government be established.