Zahid to hit the road to ‘clear name’

Nabihah Hamid Nabihah Hamid Updated 5 years ago · Published on 24 Oct 2018 7:00AM · 11 Comments

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi maintains he is innocent of the 45 charges levelled against him and he is embarking on a tour on Friday to put at rest any doubt party members may have about it. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 24, 2018.

UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi will kick off a national tour on Friday to address concerns of grassroots supporters and to maintain his innocence in the barrage of corruption charges with which he has been accused.

The 65-year-old former deputy prime minister will begin his tour in Kuala Terengganu on October 26, followed by Kedah and Perlis on November 3, according to a copy of his travel schedule sighted by The Malaysian Insight.

The Bagan Datuk MP is also due to visit party members in Perak and Sabah.

Zahid was charged last Friday with 45 counts of money-laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust involving more than RM114 million.

Some of the charges are linked to a welfare foundation, which builds religious schools, mosques and orphanages, run by his family.

Perak Umno chairman Saarani Mohamad said the extensive tour was necessary to allay the fears of the grassroots members, who had yet to recover from the party’s crushing defeat in the 14th general election.

“We have gone through defeat. The party has met at the division and branch levels. And then there was the Umno general assembly,” he said.

“A lot of things which need explaining have happened, including Najib (Razak) and Zahid’s arrests.

“We can’t continue to let our members remain mired in doubt and disconnected. Umno must keep on moving ahead.”

About 200 supporters gather at the Kuala Lumpur court complex last week to show solidarity with the Umno president accused of corruption and power abuse – charges they say are politically motivated. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 24, 2018.

Saarani, who is Kota Tampan assemblyman, said he would visit each of the 24 Umno Perak divisions at weekends to speak to the members and try to answer their questions on party matters.

Najib, the Umno president preceding Zahid, is also accused of corruption, money-laundering and abuse of power in relation to the scandal-ridden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Najib faces 32 charges, but reports indicate the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is not yet done with the former prime minister yet. He and ex-Treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah will be questioned by the anti-graft agency this afternoon on 1MDB’s dealings with Abu Dhabi wealth fund International Petroleum Investment Company.

Umno Supreme Council member Jalaluddin Alias said Zahid’s roadshow is to strengthen the party at the grassroots level.

“The president is making the tour along with Umno’s top leadership. We will be discussing all issues, current and so on.

“We are focused on strengthening the grassroots, no matter the challenges faced by Umno,” the Jelebu MP told The Malaysian Insight.

A Sabah Umno leader, who declined to be named, said party members were not affected by Zahid’s legal troubles.

“He will clear his name. I believe members are not shaken by this. In Sabah, their support has remained the same.” – October 24, 2018.


 

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Comments

  • Wasting time..

    Posted 5 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply

  • You will have your chance to clear your name in court Wak. Hope the court will bar him from discussing the matter in public. Wak is trying to spin public opinion.

    Posted 5 years ago by Mo Hisham · Reply

  • No shame. Can still talk kok. But then, it'll not surprised as many UMNO members have no brain to talk about.

    Posted 5 years ago by Jackal Way · Reply

  • Jibby wanted to control dumno and so he supported Zahid and that's how the motto "maintain the tradition" came about so that its business as usual and their interest are taken care. Jibby has a free hand while Zahid laid back allowing Jibby asshole Lokman to roam around and making street protest plans. Now that Zahid in the spot Jibby's plan got backfire and instead of applying the party written rule to go on leave Zahid goes for a road trip. Here we see yet again dumno supreme council got no say which clearly shows that dumno is run and managed by people who has cash. Are dumno members that poor that they depends on handouts?? or are they in wanting to work easy in getting easy money that low that they totally ignore the facts in front of them that ill money that are been splash to them?? Whatever the reason maybe there are no solid plans been presented nor actions taken post May 9 that really indicate in wanting to woo members and "malays" in general that they are moving forward. Thus far its heading to the grave like Tun says and they can't even see that.

    Posted 5 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • Clearing your name by having road shows? This must be a joke...What a waste of time. Better be ready for Sg Buloh...You are gone case Zahid

    Posted 5 years ago by MOHD NOOR Bin Abdul Aziz · Reply

  • still got money to go on tour?

    Posted 5 years ago by Billy rave · Reply

  • Is he taking his grand daughter's advice? Why sing to the choir, when the blind and deaf? Do it in court, where there is proof of your massive duplicity. Zahid you are showing everyone that you are a zero umno minister. How much money will you be giving people to attend your 'cerama' or 'sandiwara'.? How come you still have so much money?

    Posted 5 years ago by Alphonz Jayaraman · Reply

  • People will standby rotten eggs and be ready for you to come..

    Posted 5 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

    • Ooooo, good suggestion but a dangerous one. What if someone really threw eggs at his car when passing by? Will the citizen get into trouble with the law? I really wonder.

      Posted 5 years ago by Ryan Li · Reply

  • Why go on a party road show now to "clear his name" when the 45 charges against him are filed through our courts? If Zahid has been 100% honest in all his dealings, then his conscience before God is clear.

    Posted 5 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • Dont forget to bring the Arab Ghost with you on the tour, sure Hangat.

    Kalau takde, cuma hangat tahi ayam je

    Posted 5 years ago by ASK LAZIE · Reply