Welcome back but your style has got to change, grassroots tell Zahid

SM Amin SM Amin Updated 6 years ago · Published on 2 Jul 2019 7:00AM · 5 Comments

Party grassroots generally receive Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s return with equanimity but hope he will be calmer and less rash after a six-month break. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, July 2, 2019.

UMNO grassroots welcomed back their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi but they want him to change his leadership style so that it does not jeopardise the revival of the party.

Zahid’s quick temper and rash actions can be problematic for the party, they said.

“I hope that after six months of rest, he will be calmer in making decisions and issuing statements. He needn’t be so very vocal and critical in his speeches.

“Work diligently with the party’s supreme council, with our Barisan Nasional component partners, and with PAS. There must be more action than mere talk,” Wan Indra Putra Ahmad told The Malaysian Insight.

The Shah Alam Umno division deputy chief cited Zahid’s remarks last week on seat allocations between Umno and PAS in Penang as an example of the president’s tendency to jump the gun. He said Zahid’s statement in Penang was premature.

The Umno president in a Bukit Bendera Umno division meeting had said he was agreeable to the Penang chapter contesting at least 21 state seats in cooperation with PAS in the next general election.

On Sunday, Zahid announced he was ending his leave and returning to assume his position as Umno president.

Zahid went on leave on December 18 last year following accusations he was unable to steer the party in the face of mass defections of Umno leaders and elected reps. He also faces 87 charges of corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust.

In his absence, his deputy Mohamad Hasan carried out the presidential duties.

Subang Umno division leader Armand Azha Abu Hanifah said Umno leaders must accept Zahid’s return and give him their support to ensure the party’s alliance with PAS works effectively.

“I hope our members will not be constantly fighting on social media. We should be loyal to the party leadership.

“Our focus is to strengthen the unity of our people and defend our race, religion and nation,” he said.

Not everyone, however, is pleased about Zahid’s return.

Umno Arau Youth chief Syed Atif Syed Abu Bakar said the former deputy prime minister must explain why he had returned from leave.

He added he was informed by religious leaders that Zahid had said that he would only come back to helm Umno after a “big event” had taken place.

“We would like to know what big event he was talking about. Has it happened and is that why he’s back?”

Syed Atif said without an explanation, party members would be left to speculate among themselves.

The Kelantan and Sabah Umno chapters, meanwhile, openly welcomed Zahid’s return, saying that it was in accordance with the mandate given by the members who chose him as their party president last year.

“Kelantan Umno is confident that Zahid will continue to work closely with PAS,” said state chairman Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub.

Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said the state chapter had faith the party will be strengthened by Zahid’s return. – July 2, 2019.

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Comments

  • Zahid is just a thug, he cannot lead and does not inspire. Like a loyal puppy to Najib he was probably good at cleaning up and covering up whilst enriching himself at the same time.

    Posted 6 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

    • He is rich already, he got to cough out.

      Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • You're too right about the leader that does nothing to inspire. No words of wisdom or vision have ever been heard coming from him.

      Posted 6 years ago by C D · Reply

  • Umno as a whole must realize that Zahid if he is without any position and all alone facing the 100 over charges , he is sure a gonner. He knows that he needs to be somebody inorder to enjoy the shield and protection and where else other than Umno with the volume of ignorant and gullible members to act as vanguard. They will create troubles and mayhem when he is charged for he is their Umno leader. Zahid is fully aware that he needs the number strength to apply the pressure to PH for leverage. He has nothing spectacular to offer in his come back to revive Umno. He needs Umno more than the party needs him. Umno has already play down the prominance of the lanun and never comes out in droves to support him except for the "carrot man" who has yet to come to terms on his stupidity and foolish futile effort to save his lanun boss.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • I think Najibs remark about not letting him fight PH alone gives a clue. Najib and Zahid both know they committed crimes and they are trying to use UMNO to hide behind. If the party faithful defend them they think they might get away with their misdeeds. No chance of course, the rule of law will prevail and UMNO will lose all credibility for not condemning these and others when it had the chance.

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply