UMNO vice president Mohamed Khaled Nordin has urged party leaders to regroup and let go of personal ambitions for the sake of the party’s survival. 

Khaled, in a Facebook post, said in order to survive, every member must follow the decision made by the party’s Supreme Council and the president.

His comment came following criticisms aimed at party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in recent days. 

“There are too many ambitions from groups in Umno. Personal ambitions, not for the country, religion or race.

“This will lead Umno to trouble if not sorted. Umno leaders must forgo personal aspirations. If Umno wants to stay relevant, it must follow what has been decided by the party and this means the decision by the Supreme Council and president,” he said this morning. 

Several Umno leaders have criticised Zahid in public days after the Bagan Datuk MP gave Perikatan Nasional an ultimatum to convene Parliament in 14 days. 

Chief among the critics has been Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz, who had said that he had lost confidence in Zahid for working with PKR president Anwar Ibrahim. 

He also said he had secured signatures from 25 out of 42 BN lawmakers to make Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein their spokesman to the Agong. 

Another Umno man who has spoken out against Zahid’s 14-day ultimatum was party vice president Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

Ismail who is a member in the PN cabinet, played down Zahid’s ultimatum, saying only the council can decide on the party’s stance. 

The party, at its annual general meeting in March, agreed to cut off ties with Bersatu and PN for the next election. It also agreed not to cooperate with Anwar, PKR or DAP. – June 25, 2021.