The back and forth between Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim over the word “guru” continued over the weekend.
Speaking during his winding up speech at the 2026 UMNO General Assembly, Zahid said he had never needed to learn from Anwar before adding that a smart student does not necessarily need a teacher.
I never learned from him,” Zahid reportedly said.
He then added that a “smart student does not need a teacher”, in what appeared to be another response to the ongoing “guru” exchange between the two leaders.
Zahid first called out his ‘guru’
The exchange began during Zahid’s presidential address, where he repeatedly referred to an unnamed person as “guru” while raising concerns over several government policies.
Among them was the handling of the Budi95 petrol subsidy quota, which had previously been reduced before being restored.
Enough, guru. Listen to our voices, guru,” Zahid said.
Although he did not directly name Anwar, the remarks were widely interpreted as referring to the prime minister.
Anwar responds: ‘Guru has safely arrived in New Delhi’
Anwar later responded in a Facebook post after arriving in New Delhi, India, for the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.
Playing along with the “guru” reference, Anwar wrote:
Alhamdulillah, Guru has safely arrived in New Delhi, India to carry Malaysia’s name onto the world stage at the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit.”
He then asked Malaysians to pray for the country’s diplomatic mission to achieve its objectives before adding another cheeky line:
May the students learn from Guru how MADANI Diplomacy is put into practice. Slayyy 💅”
The post appeared to be a playful response to Zahid’s earlier remarks.
Zahid fires back again
Zahid later responded during his winding up speech, saying he had never learned from Anwar.
He then suggested that someone who is capable enough may no longer need a teacher, remarking that “smart students don’t need a teacher”.
The exchange has drawn attention online due to the two leaders’ long political history and their current roles in the Unity Government.
Despite the jabs, UMNO leaders have maintained that the party remains committed to the Unity Government until the end of the current parliamentary term.
