AMANAH leaders today congratulated Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for winning the Umno presidency but added that the results of the party elections showed members were “still trapped in the old thinking”.

Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and vice-president Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa described the Umno presidential election outcome as “surprising” as many expected to see new leaders helm the party.

“People were expecting to see some reform after the party fell from grace but the results showed that the members were still trapped in the old thinking,” said Mujahid.

“Usually after a party had lost badly in the elections, it will go for reform.

“Aside from my congratulations to Zahid, I don’t see much reform coming from Umno. It would be a different story if KJ or someone else had been elected,” he said, referring to Khairy Jamaluddin, the popular former Umno Youth chief.

Khairy, during his campaign, proposed many reforms, such as sharing power with the grassroots, letting them select general election candidates in their own areas and allowing criticism against the president.

Zahid defeated Khairy and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Zahid, who was previously Umno vice-president, had been carrying out the duties as acting president following the resignation of Najib Razak after Umno and Barisan Nasional were defeated in the May 9 general election.

His rise to the top spot, analysts said, would not give Umno much reform.

Mujahid said it was surprising that Umno delegates voted the way they did at a time when the party’s accounts were frozen.

He also drew attention to the fact that Zahid was accused of using funds from a foundation to settle a RM800,000 credit card bill.

The former deputy prime minister and home minister is expected to be questioned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) soon.

“He is also under investigation, although that is not my problem,” Mujahid said at the Penang Amanah Hari Raya open house in Sungai Dua today.

Meanwhile, Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, hoped Zahid would be able to lead Umno into becoming a good opposition party to check the Pakatan Harapan government.

“Umno’s selection of its new leadership is its business, but we hope Zahid can play the role well to lead in providing checks and balances.

“We hope he and Umno will give democracy a boost and tell PH if something is not right with the administration,” Mat Sabu told reporters. – July 1, 2018.