Want to be president? Read party constitution first, says Zahid
Melissa Darlyne Chow
-December 19, 2018 1:16 AM
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi at the Umno general assembly in September. He says he and other party leaders should be given a chance to carry out their duties. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today took a swipe at those who had called on him to step down as president and for a re-election to be held.
In response to the calls, Zahid turned cheeky and agreed to re-elections to be held again — in 2021.
“Yes, re-elections can be held in 2021, when my term is over. ‘Yang nak gila talak ini pasal apa? (Why are you so hard up for the post of president?)
“When the time comes, you can contest again. By that time, the post will be vacant.
“Furthermore, it is not yet certain whether I will contest or not.
“It could be YB GST (referring to Pontian MP Ahmad Maslan), or Pasir Salak (Tajuddin Abdul Rahman),” he said during a discourse with party members on Tuesday night.
While Zahid did not give names, he is believed to be referring to Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, who had recently joined a chorus of calls for Zahid to resign as Umno president.
Khairy lost to Zahid in the Umno presidential election in June.
Sabah Umno Youth had also issued a call for Zahid’s immediate resignation in the wake of a mass exit of leaders from the party’s chapter in the state.
Zahid said in the coming three years, he, along with other elected party leaders, should be given a chance to carry out their duties.
“Accept the fact that they have been elected. Do your job. ‘Jangan cucuk-cucuk dari bawah dan belakang’ (Don’ft instigate from all corners),” he said.
The Bagan Datuk MP went on to state that there were no provisions in the party constitution that a re-election must be held. The president should be allowed to complete his term, which lasts three years, he added.
Zahid said there were also those who were of the view that an extraordinary general meeting needs to be called.
He pointed out that there were three clauses in the party constitution which allows for an EGM to be held.
“Firstly, the EGM can be called if the president calls for it. Secondly, if 50% of Umno members put it in writing and, thirdly, all divisions hold their delegates’ meeting and two-thirds of them vote for an EGM.
“Please read the party constitution, if you want to be president,” he said.
Zahid urged those in Umno not to be like crabs in a basket stepping over each other to get out of the basket.
He cautioned that in stepping over each other, not one crab can get out and all will die.
“I am a realist. Umno must be given a new lease of life. Do not leave it to the president alone to rebuild the party.
“We are all in this together. I am willing to sacrifice, to carry out changes in the interest of the party.
“To those who have been persuaded or threatened to jump, please come back.
“I am willing to sacrifice, but I will never resign,” he added.
Zahid subsequently announced that he would hand over his duties as president to his deputy, Mohamad Hasan.
‘We were treated like faeces’
Zahid also related how he and other senior Umno leaders had been treated like faeces by certain people in meetings which took place after the general election.
However, he made no mention of the people he met or the nature of the meetings which had taken place.
The people they met, Zahid said, imposed conditions which were impossible to fulfil. He also claimed they were treated “like the filthiest of faeces. The faeces of animals forbidden in Islam”.
“We were told that Umno must be disbanded, and its members must hop over to a new party.
“This means that Umno’s seven decades of history will be erased just like that because the people really hate Umno over its alleged corruption, theft and robbery.
“My stand then, while carrying out the duties of the president, was that I would not compromise. I will never hop over (to another party). Nor will I disband Umno, for the sake of religion, race and country.
“The price was too much to pay, not just for me, but also for other partners.
“My drive is this, that even if I am rejected, disgraced or insulted, but for Umno to be erased, this is not in my political dictionary,” he said, expressing gratitude to the grassroots members who have never wavered.
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Zahid passes duties to Mohamad
Wednesday, 19 Dec 2018
by zakiah koya and hanis zainal
Over to you: Ahmad Zahid, pictured here with Mohamad at a recent press conference, has announced that the latter will take on the responsibilities of the Umno president.
PETALING JAYA: Days after refusing to heed calls for him to step down as Umno president, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has decided to step aside and hand over his duties to his deputy.
He announced his decision late last night, weeks after mounting pressure calling for his resignation amid an exodus of Umno elected representatives, leaders and party members.
He said he made the decision because “Umno has to be saved from collapse”.
“For the sake of integrity in Umno and in the interest of the leadership at all levels, especially the MPs, the state assemblymen and at the divisions, urgent steps needed to be taken to save the situation.
“Due to the crisis faced by the party at the moment, I’ve decided to give my trust to deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan to take on the responsibilities of the president,” he said in a statement.
Ahmad Zahid said Umno grassroots members were hoping that the party leaders would steer the party in line with its new slogan of “Umno Bangkit” (Umno Rises).
“Umno can rise and rise fast if unity between the party is strengthened and that members think as a team in an empowered Umno,” he added.
Ahmad Zahid, who won the Umno presidency in a three-cornered fight on June 30, said his decision was also influenced by his concern that other Umno leaders might get the same treatment he was facing at present.
“I feel the anxiety that some Umno leaders might have, as I worry that they might receive the same pressure, probe and allegations I am going through,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid is currently facing a total of 46 charges – 11 counts of CBT involving RM20,833,733.69, eight graft charges amounting to RM21,250,000 and 27 money laundering charges amounting to RM72,063,618.15.
Days before, Ahmad Zahid said he would not bow to any pressure to resign, stressing that only the Umno general assembly could remove him from the post.
“Before this, the pressure was to go on leave, now the pressure is to resign ... only the Umno general assembly can remove me. It must be attended by two-thirds of the delegates who attended the last general assembly,” he had said.
Calls for Ahmad Zahid to step aside or to take leave from his post have been made by several leaders in the party, including Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin, Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
Six Umno MPs – Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin (Larut), Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu), Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (Tasik Gelugor), Datuk Mohamad Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam) and Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah) – announced their resignation last Friday.
A few days earlier, Sabah Umno lost nine of its 10 assemblymen, five of its six MPs and 22 of 25 division chiefs.
Among those who quit were state party chairman Hajiji Mohd Noor and MPs Datuk Seri Dr Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Datuk Rahim Bakri (Kudat), Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang) and Datuk Zakaria Edris (Libaran).
Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/12/19/zahid-passes-duties-to-mohamad-umno-president-makes-sudden-decision-to-save-party-from-collapse/#XOqUqPchlk21xAkh.99
