KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi rained fire on the party’s two former stalwarts for quitting, as support for the country’s largest Malay political organisation continues to decline.
Zahid said Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed and Datuk Seri Anifah Aman’s resignations reflected their weakened resolve in times of crisis following Umno’s defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14).
“Of course, Umno regrets Mustapa and Anifah’s actions of leaving the party.
“We need to be sincere and possess a strong competitive spirit to ensure the continuation of the party’s struggles. Leaving the party at a time it is being tested, is not something that is commendable or should be emulated.
“Islam teaches us to remain faithful (to our leaders) as long as no wrong has been committed,” Zahid said in a statement yesterday.
Mustapa had, on Tuesday, said he believed Umno’s direction and his political principles were no longer aligned, while Anifah yesterday said he had been wanting to leave the party.
Zahid also criticised the reasons stated by Mustapa that led to his resignation.
“In light of the current situation, I want to state that whatever reasons used to justify such actions are wrong, because they were elected as the people’s representatives based on the trust given by the masses for Umno.
“It is wrong to use the party’s weakness as an excuse for your personal agenda.
“But whatever it is, Umno accepts and respects their decisions. We wish them luck and that the decisions will provide them with a much-needed satisfaction.”
In a tweet, Rembau member of parliament and former party Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said Mustapa had left Umno due to the ongoing cooperation with Pas.
Khairy also blamed Zahid over Mustap a’s resignation.
Zahid called on party members to remain calm and assured them that the leadership was addressing the issue.
“As Umno president, I am looking into Umno’s situation.
“I implore all party leaders and members to remain calm and confident in the party leadership to address such issues.”
Zahid said he hoped the crisis would not weaken the party and that measures were being taken to rejuvenate the party.
“We will hold the party’s general assembly at the end of this month. I hope that it will not weaken us. After GE14, various efforts had been implemented to regain party members and people’s faith in Umno’s idealism.
“I hope such an issue will not debilitate Umno. The party needs loyalists for its survival. Let the loyal ones remain in Umno. Only then it will be easy for the party to administer its plans.”
