Umno's opponents will have to cross the dead bodies of its party members if they want to try and dissolve the party, said its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

"In the name of Malay and Muslim unity, do not ask Umno members to jump to Bersatu. Do not try to dissolve or outlaw Umno.

"If Umno is to be dissolved, cross the dead bodies of Umno members first. Cross all of our dead bodies first," he said when officiating the Ipoh Barat Umno division meeting in Perak today.

In his speech, Zahid also set out the terms for cooperation with other parties in the name of Malay unity.

"Firstly, they (those who want to negotiate) cannot be in cahoots with the cursed (Laknatullah) DAP.

"Secondly, as Umno and PAS are already in political cooperation, in any negotiations, Umno will not abandon PAS and PAS will not abandon Umno," he said.

Zahid had met Mahathir last year, who reportedly told him to dissolve Umno as it no longer represented the Umno that was. Zahid has vehemently refused to do so.

However, Umno is also facing financial difficulties as its bank accounts have been frozen for receiving funds from former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak, who is accused of stealing billions from 1MDB. He has denied wrongdoing.

Zahid. in his speech, went on a tirade against the DAP and blamed it on Bersatu chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was previously the Umno president.

"Who taught us to hate the DAP?" he asked as the crowd replied: "Mahathir".

"But the same man who hated the DAP is now kissing the DAP for power," he said.