KUALA LUMPUR – It is uncalled for to lobby for Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign following the coalition’s dismal performance in many Malay-majority seats in the recently-concluded six state elections.
According to Umno Supreme Council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi, the outcome of the polls is a collective burden and Zahid’s resignation is not the solution.
“Don’t point fingers. All are responsible,” he said in a Facebook post today.
Puad also lashed out at former Umno member turned Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for jumping on the bandwagon, calling for Zahid to step down.
“Muhyiddin is arrogant when calling for Zahid to resign. When PN lost badly in Melaka and Johor (state elections), he did not resign. He remains Bersatu president while he is part of the court cluster.”
However, Puad does not deny that Umno needs to get back the support of the Malays, saying that Umno ministers must be serious about making the Malay and rakyat agenda a success.
“This is why Umno must remain in the (federal) unity government. PH (Pakatan Harapan) and BN need to strengthen their cooperation. Zahid is the man for this mission.”
Of the total 245 state seats up for grabs, BN only won 19 and lost most of the rural Malay-majority seats to PN.
Several Umno division chiefs felt that the political cooperation with PH component DAP is still hard for Umno grassroots to swallow.
Meanwhile, former Terengganu Umno chief Tan Sri Idris Jusoh urged Zahid to step down as Umno president as he should shoulder the responsibility for the party’s mediocre performance in the polls.
Early this year, Muhyiddin was slapped with seven charges of power abuse and money laundering amounting to RM427.5 million. – August 14, 2023