IT will not be easy to get Umno members to discuss and come up with a resolution if they want their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to go on leave over his court cases, said party grassroots leaders.

Zahid was elected to the top position after being nominated and supported by all levels of the party nationwide, they said.

As such, a similar process is needed if the party wants him to step aside pending the cases.

Veteran party secretary Mustapha Yaakub said, so far, there have only been rumblings among some for Zahid to be relieved of his position temporarily. 

“There is no grand-scale movement in the party to have a vote of no-confidence against Zahid. He was elected by the divisions, thus, the divisions will have to call for an assembly if they want Zahid to step down even for a temporary period,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Recently, Barisan Nasional secretary-general Nazri Aziz said if Umno members wanted Zahid to be relieved of his duties, the grassroots level should call for a resolution to ask Zahid to go. 

Zahid faces 45 charges of criminal breach of trust, bribery and money-laundering, involving RM114 million.

The funds allegedly belong to charity foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi, of which he is a trustee, and for projects awarded when he was home minister in the previous BN government.

Earlier this month, the Umno Supreme Council rejected a proposal by Umno Youth for Zahid to go on leave as they felt the president stepping aside would only weaken the party.

Meanwhile, Pasir Puteh Umno chief Zawawi Othman said his division will only call for an emergency meeting on the matter if the branches call for it.

“If the members want it, it has to be brought to the branches first. Pasir Puteh has 212 branches and if more than half of them want us to hold an emergency meeting, we will comply.

“If only one or two branches vote against Zahid, then its illogical for us to take it up at the division level. We have not had any branch under us calling for Zahid to go on leave.”

He added that it was common for people to talk about such matters and it can’t be used as a reason to ask Zahid to step down temporarily.

“If that is the case, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, too, has to step down as many people dislike his government.”

Pokok Sena division chief Noran Zamini Jamaluddin said he has not seen any movement at the branch or division level urging Zahid to step aside.

“There is coffee-shop talk but there is no such a thing as a movement against him.”

He said Zahid’s nationwide tour to explain his court cases to party members has positive reception.

“The tour has relieved the grassroots. We now see that they are ready to rise again.” – November 20, 2018.