Politics

Shouts of "undur Zahid" heard at Umno HQ

KUALA LUMPUR: Pressure is mounting on Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down as Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman.

Several Umno branch leaders today took their views to the Umno headquarters at Menara Dato Onn here to urge Zahid to resign and take responsibility for BN's defeat in the 15th General Election (GE15).

KLCC Umno branch chief Datuk Seri Dzulkarnain Taib and Bukit Bintang Umno leader Mohd Zailan Mokhtar headed a small group of grassroots members at Menara Dato Onn, calling for Zahid's resignation.

They were heard chanting "undur Zahid" (Zahid, step down).

Dzulkarnain told the media that the "No. 1 " in the party, referring to Zahid, should take responsibility for BN's loss yesterday.

"It's not that we don't love Zahid. We do, and we respect him, but someone has to pay the price and Zahid has to take responsibility because we have lost the election two times in a row.

"The number of seats we gained in GE15 is much smaller than what we got in GE14.

"So Zahid should do the honourable thing and resign before the Umno Supreme Council moves a vote of no confidence against him.

"The Bukit Bintang division will start this movement to demand Zahid's resignation and we are sure more branch and division leaders will do the same."

Dzulkarnain said they were not afraid of being sacked from the party and that they would continue to push Zahid to resign.

He also questioned Zahid's refusal to emulate former party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's action of stepping down after GE14.

"If Najib can resign, why can't Zahid? Is Zahid's personal agenda more important than the party's?

"We were told about a rumour that BN may cooperate with Pakatan Harapan.

"I would like to remind all that the Umno general assembly had decided that there will be no DAP, no (PKR president Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim."

He blamed Zahid for pressuring caretaker prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob into calling an early election.

"The Yang di-Pertuan Agong had said that he wished to see Ismail Sabri's government end when the 14th parliamentary term ends.

"But Zahid insisted on an early general election. See what happens when you don't listen to the king's advice?"

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