AHMAD Zahid Hamidi said he is prepared to end his leave if he is needed to strengthen Umno.

The party president, who has been on an indefinite leave since being charged in court for several cases, said that there is no timeline for him to return to politics.

“If I am on leave, it is to strengthen the party. I have no timeline. There are calls from party members (for me to return).

“The most important thing is if I’m needed then I will return,” he said at the town hall session on Politik Malaysia Baharu at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

Last December, Zahid said he was going on leave as Umno president. The duties of the party’s president have been taken over by deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

This came about after Zahid was slapped with 45 charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power involving more than RM114 million.

He also hopes that Mohamad will do his best to unite the members.

Mohamad has taken over the role when Zahid went on leave on December 19, 2018.

Zahid also said that even though “Bossku” (fomer prime minister Najib Razak) has been hit with various accusations, he is the most popular man in the country.

“If he has 42 charges, I have 47. How can I commit criminal breach of trust and swindle my own money?” – April 6, 2019.