UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has trained his guns on a party member who has questioned why his decision to lead the party again was not discussed by the party’s supreme council.

While he did not name former youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin, it is clear to whom Ahmad Zahid is referring.

“When I was slapped with 47 charges, there was pressure on me to leave. Even the person who lost in the presidential election said I should quit. You lost, so be graceful about it.

“But when I decided to return, this same person says my decision should be discussed by the supreme council. How come when he asked me to quit he did not ask for it to be discussed by the supreme council.

“This is my right. I am elected Umno president. No matter what happens to me, I won’t quit,” he said during the launch of the Tambun Umno division meeting in Ipoh today.

Khairy, who is also Rembau MP, had been reported as saying the Umno supreme council should discuss Zahid’s return.

He also reportedly did not agree with Zahid’s decision.

Ahmad Zahid went on leave soon after he was hauled up for criminal breach of trust (CBT) and money laundering charges.

On October 19 and December 14, Ahmad Zahid pleaded not guilty to a total of 46 charges, comprising 11 charges of CBT, eight charges of corruption and 27 charges of money laundering, involving millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

On February 20, he was slapped with another charge of CBT, involving RM260,000 belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.

However, Ahmad Zahid’s decision had the backing of former Umno president Najib Razak who called on members to accept it.

Najib said Ahmad Zahid has been given a mandate to lead the party for three years and should be allowed the space to do it.

He added if members are still unhappy with Ahmad Zahid’s return, they can always vote him out in the next party polls.

“Zahid has returned as president. He is given the mandate to lead for three years. I accept his decision.

“If you don’t like this, you can remove him in the next party polls.

“But don’t make trouble in the party at this time. Don’t break up into camps and factions,” he told Setiawangsa division delegates when launching their meeting yesterday. – July 7, 2019.