THERE is no time frame set for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to return to active duty from his leave, said senior vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail said Zahid had not interfered in Umno matters since going on leave in December.

“We have not decided how long he would need to go on leave. Such a thing is also not stated in the party constitution. We just leave it to him on how long he wants to be on leave.

“What is important is that during the period he has been away on leave, Zahid has never interfered in Umno matters. He has truly been on leave,” he said.

He said this in response to calls made by Tebrau Umno chief Maulizan Bujang for Zahid to continue to be away from doing his duties as Umno president.

Maulizan said this after several Zahid supporters said it was time for the former deputy prime minister to be back to helm Umno.

Last December, Zahid, who only became the party president in May after the general election, agreed to go on leave to concentrate on his criminal trials. He had handed over the task of running the party to deputy president Mohamad Hasan.

“Umno has 191 divisions. The views of one or two individuals do not represent the party’s stand. We adhere to our constitution.

“We accept and respect views from all our members but at the end, it is the constitution which determines everything,” Ismail said.

He also said the formation of a new Malay party, Putra, by Perkasa leader Ibrahim Ali will only further divide the Malays.

“Malays will only be divided with more such parties (but) we can’t stop them. Malaysia is a democratic country, anyone can form a party as long as they have the approval of the Registrar of Companies.”

He added that the Umno-PAS cooperation was meant to unite the Malays.

“However, we now have yet another party claiming to protect the Malays. We don’t know how many more will crop up before the next general election,” he added. – May 29, 2019.