UMNO Youth has urged party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to consider taking a leave of absence from his post in view of criminal charges brought against him.

The wing’s chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said that they were not asking Zahid to step down as president but only felt that the former deputy prime minister should step back from his duties as party head until his case was settled.

“We urge him to consider taking a break from the president’s duties until his case is settled in court.

“It is not fair to burden the president, who is facing allegations, at a time when Umno needs to move swiftly in the new political landscape,” Asyraf said at a press conference today after chairing Umno Youth’s monthly exco meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre.

Zahid was last week charged with 45 counts of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money laundering involving RM114 million. The offences relate to misappropriation of funds from a charity of which he is a trustee and to receiving gratification in his former position as home minister.

Asyraf today said the wing’s proposal had the unanimous support of all the exco members. 

He stressed that Umno Youth’s call for Zahid to go on leave did not mean he was guilty, but because it was felt that he should be given the time and space to clear his name in court, out of the media spotlight.

“Umno Youth is of the position that unless he is convicted and sentenced, he is considered innocent based on the principle of innocent until proven guilty.

“Let the legal process take its course fairly and transparently and without prejudice in court, and not in the media.”

Shoild Zahid agree to go on leave, he said the party’s Supreme Council would decide on who should be acting president.

“We are not out to topple anyone. If the court declares him innocent, we will be the first to support him as president.”

The Youth wing made the call today ahead of a Supreme Council meeting next month where Zahid position in the party is on the agenda.

Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa earlier this week said a party regulation requiring a leader to step down when charged with a crime only applied when the party was in government. It was no longer valid now that the party was in the opposition, he said.  – October 25, 2018.