Umno secretary, Feb. 23 -- Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi directed his supreme council to meet today for an unspecified reason, Tan Sri Annuar Musa confirmed.

The Umno secretary-general told reporters that Zahid did not say why the urgent meeting was being called, but speculation is raging that the Malay nationalist party could discuss a possible alliance with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, among others.

Bersatu is from the ruling Pakatan Harapan but threatened to quit the coalition on Friday after some allies sought for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to set a clear date for when he will leave the prime minister's post.

"The president issued a directive this morning. I have been asked to inform all supreme council members that ...