PUTRAJAYA: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has denied that the party is greedy following Selangor Umno's decision to relinquish the 24 local council posts it previously had in the state.
"It is not a question of being greedy in this matter. We have 2 division heads, so if someone did not get it (the posts), all shouldn't get it as well.
"Hence, we leave it to the Selangor unity government under the leadership of (Datuk Seri) Amirudin (Shari).
"Although we are not part of the local councils, we will keep supporting all state government programmes held by the local councils," Zahid told reporters after attending an engagement session with the Malaysian Motorcycle Association today.
Present was Transport Minister Anthony Loke and Deputy Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.
Zahid added a meeting was held last night with 22 Selangor Umno division heads.
"I respected their decision to reject the 20 local council posts offered.
"I believe that the decision should be respected. They are not discouraged (for being offered only 20 posts), but they want to play a role independently and not sit as members of the local councils."
On Saturday (Jan 20), Selangor Umno decided to relinquish the 20 local council posts in the state to its coalition partner, Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Selangor Umno Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin had said the move demonstrated the party's lack of greed for positions. He also refuted any claim of the state Umno pressuring PH for those roles.
He said the decision had been made during the Selangor Umno meeting attended by all 22 divisions at the Shah Alam Umno office on Friday (Jan 19).
There are 288 local council seats in Selangor.