AHMAD Zahid Hamidi is back on the scene as he officiated a Kepong Umno division meeting, his first party event in six months, after taking a break from presidential duties since  December.

Umno Kepong division chief Rizuan Abd Hamid asked Zahid in his speech to return to his duties once his deputy Mohamad Hasan had ironed out the party’s internal issues.

“Umno is currently being led by Tok Mat (Mohamad). Tok Mat is doing a good job in winning a few by-elections and in unifying Umno. We should give him a chance.

“Once everything is sorted, we hope the president returns to his duties,” Rizuan said.

However, Zahid steered clear from responding to the request and instead focused on the issue of unity among members in his keynote speech.

He said Umno members should focus on preparing for the 15th general election as it would be disastrous to let Pakatan Harapan continue to rule.

In addition to that, he urged Umno members to genuinely accept the party’s cooperation with PAS in order to recapture Putrajaya.

“Take May 9 as a lesson to snap us out of the lies and the pleonexia of those hungry for power.

“The Malays are losing their voice. We are divided because there are too many parties. That is why it is important to strengthen the pact with PAS.

“Gerakan Penyatuan Ummah has worked effectively including in a few by-elections and Pakatan Harapan has started to fret,” he said.

Zahid has been criticised by Umno members and leaders for lacking direction in leading the party after emerging victorious in the party elections last June.

In addition to that, he is also facing 47 charges including criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering.

He later handed over his duties to Mohamad at the interim, on the grounds that it is in line with the hopes of party members who was seeking direction in the party’s leadership.

Umno advisory council president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah saw Zahid’s actions as unreasonable and asked the Bagan Datuk MP to resume duties as there is no leave for Umno presidents.

While Tengku Razaleigh felt that the court proceedings could affect Umno, he is also of the view that the two matters could be handled separately.

Mohamad said yesterday that he has no problem handing presidential duties back to Zahid. – June 22, 2019.