UMNO Youth again urged Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to go on leave, pending his court cases at a party retreat where the president was present on Sunday.

The second call came just days after the Youth wing met and issued a statement on October 25 calling for the same.

At the Umno Youth retreat held in Janda Baik for Umno Youth leaders from the divisional level, Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki repeated the stand in his speech. Zahid was present at the closing ceremony of the retreat.

Asyraf said Umno Youth took that step out of love for the party and respect held for the office of the president.

“We speak out as we love this party and we give our views as we love our president.

“We will not betray him as he is the leader of the party, and especially not when we, as the party, have been betrayed by those we have considered as our fatherly figures,” he said in his speech, a copy of which was sighted by The Malaysian Insight.

Asyraf added that by making the call, Umno Youth was not trying to sink the party.

“We promise that we will never allow this party to sink. We will make sure it continues sailing,” he told 326 participants from Umno Youth from all divisions in the country.

Also present at the closing ceremony was Umno information chief Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.

Umno Youth agreed on October 25 to call for Zahid to be relieved of his position so that he can face his court cases.

This was to allow Zahid to concentrate fully on clearing his reputation and prove his innocence.

Zahid’s position as party president has been placed under a spotlight after he was charged with 10 counts of criminal breach of trust, eight counts of receiving bribes amounting to more than RM42 million, and 27 charges of money laundering.

The charges involve more than RM114 million and are related to his foundation, the Akalbudi Foundation, as well as decisions he had made while he was home minister under the previous administration.

Asyraf said the Youth wing’s stand on the matter was similar to that taken by Zahid when he was the wing’s chief. He had then urged party leaders to step down when they faced investigations.

“In fact, even before becoming the Youth wing chief, Zahid was the loudest in wanting then Youth chief Rahim Thamby Chik to step down after being involved in a scandal,” said Asyraf to loud cheers at the retreat.

Rahim, who was Malacca chief minister, eventually went on leave as Youth chief after he was accused of being involved with an underage girl in 1994.

Asyraf said he was disappointed that there were several in the party who had attacked the Youth wing for its stand.

“When we give our views, we are polite. We can’t tolerate those who want to cause disunity and trouble in the party.

“These people are ignorant of the president’s mindset and thinking, for he is a person who appreciates differing views.

“That is why, no matter what, he is here today,” he said.

Zahid then tried to explain his cases.

“I take this opportunity not to treat this hall as the court for me to present my defence but I ask you to listen to my explanation.

“After that, think about it. If I am found guilty even before the court decides, I will accept your verdict and will resign from my post, not just take a break,” he said.

The Bagan Datuk MP stressed that he was not involved in any criminal breach of trust and that money from the foundation was used to fund religious schools, suraus, mosques and printing of Quran.

Umno Youth leaders, however, said they were not satisfied with Zahid’s explanation. – October 30, 2018.