KUALA LUMPUR – Despite earlier criticisms, Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh praised Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for listening to grassroots voices and placing the party’s principles above personal interest, as calls grow for Umno to reconsider its position in the unity government.
Speaking at the Special Convention titled “Umno’s Direction: To Remain in or Leave the Unity Government”, Akmal said Zahid had taken on board advice from Umno Youth and grassroots leaders, particularly on issues touching on Islam, the Malay rulers and Malay dignity.
“Contrary to what people think, the Umno president listens to the grassroots. He has no personal interest in this matter. What guides him is the party’s principles and dignity,” Akmal said.
According to Akmal, Zahid had assured that Umno would not cling to power if remaining in the unity government meant compromising its core values.
“If Umno’s red lines are crossed, there is no reason for us to stay in government,” he said, adding that dignity must come before positions and power.
Akmal said the assurance reflected a shift towards a more principled stand by the party leadership, amid mounting frustration at the grassroots level over what he described as repeated challenges to sensitive issues involving religion, sovereignty and national symbols.
“For three years, the grassroots have been patient in the name of stability. That patience should not be misunderstood as weakness,” he said.
The Umno Youth chief stressed that his remarks were not an attack on the party leadership, but an effort to convey the genuine sentiments from the ground.
“This is not about personal ambition. This is about responsibility. Umno was not born from fear or submission, but from struggle and dignity,” he said.
Akmal said Umno had proven in the past that it could survive outside government and would do so again if necessary.
“What is the value of being in government if we have lost our dignity?” he asked, reiterating that Umno’s continued participation in the unity government must be based on mutual respect and adherence to the party’s founding principles.
He said the convention would serve as a platform to formally channel grassroots resolutions to the party’s top leadership, as Umno deliberates its next course of action in the unity government. – January 3, 2026