KUALA LUMPUR: Wanita UMNO has firmly expressed its support for Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to continue as the party president.
Its chairman Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad said the former Deputy Prime Minister should not go on leave despite facing 45 allegations of breach of trust and corruption.
"Wanita UMNO will continue to support the current leadership and express our solidarity with the party at times when its leaders continue to be tested,” she said when contacted today.
Noraini, who is also Parit Sulong MP, also urged UMNO members to give Ahmad Zahid a chance to restore people’s confidence in the party after the 14th General Election (GE14).
She urged UMNO members to be rational and be fair to serve the president, on the grounds that the leader had not been proven guilty in the court of law.
"UMNO members do not act according to emotions. Let the legal process run fairly, transparently and without prejudice in court.
"Meanwhile, we focus on the efforts to restore and re-empower UMNO," he said.
When asked on the latest decision by the Umno Supreme Council on Ahmad Zahid's status, Noraini said no meeting was held on the matter.
Prior to this, Umno Youth had urged Ahmad Zahid to take leave and cease from carrying out the duties as the President so that he could focus on clearing his name.
However, Wanita and Puteri wings, in a different tune to the Youth, have urged UMNO members and leaders to show solidarity to the president while Umno and its leaders were tested.
The Umno Youth's decision had created a chain of reaction among Umno leaders, especially among the Supreme Council members. It also saw Datuk Lokman Noor Adam lashing out at such suggestion which they deemed insulting to the president and the party.
Earlier, Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said Ahmad Zahid, who is also Bagan Datuk Member of Parliament, might have to take a break from carrying out his duties in the party.
Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Tan Sri Annuar Musa said standard operating procedure which requires senior Umno leaders to take leave if they are charged in court, is only applicable if the party is still part of the ruling government.
