WITH KNIVES INSIDE & OUTSIDE AIMED AT HIS HEAD, WRITING ON THE WALL FOR ZAHID TO GO DOWN AS UMNO’S SHORTEST-SERVING PRESIDENT DESPITE POCKETS OF SUPPORT

ALL is not well for Ahmad Zahid Hamidi despite a full turnout in Rantau, Negri Sembilan yesterday.

The beleaguered Umno president acknowledged there are calls from within the party for him to go on leave while he clears the 45 corruption charges against him.

“Even Pakatan Harapan hopes that I will go on leave but I will not do that. I will stay on,” he told the crowd of about 2,000 Negri Sembilan Umno grassroots members who had gathered since 8am to hear him talk about the charges.

Zahid was on his fifth stop of his nationwide campaign to strengthen his position after he was slapped with 45 charges involving RM114.15 million.

The spirited 65-year-old alleged the calls for him to take leave was part of a ploy to weaken his party and render it “rudderless”.

During the 48-minute speech, Zahid said the charges against him was due to his reluctance to join Bersatu or dissolve Umno.

“They said that I met them (Bersatu) to seek advice on how to run Umno but it’s not true. They wanted me to join them and dissolve Umno,” he said.

But sensing the media’s presence, Zahid opted not to go into detail about the charges.

“I have already explained it to Wanita and Youth leaders and the Negri exco today,” said the former deputy prime minister.

Unity

Instead, Zahid rallied the party to close ranks as he continued to hint that the party “could return to power” soon.

“They are fighting among themselves now. And when two elephants fight, the mousedeer (kancil) must stand aside. One of the elephants will eventually lose and when that happens, they will come to us for help,” said Zahid.

He was referring to the alleged tussle between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and PKR president-elect Anwar Ibrahim over the position of prime minister.

In his call for the party to unite and back his leadership, Zahid reserved a special mention for Khairy Jamaluddin.

“There is a difference of opinion between me and Umno Youth and even the previous Youth chief. I can accept that although one must not go too far. Why do we want to fight among ourselves?”

Zahid then went on to say that Khairy was entrusted to be the first opposition member to debate the national budget next Monday.

“Although I’m the opposition leader, (with the agreement of other MPs) I have given the mandate for Khairy to present the alternative budget on Monday because we have confidence in him.

“This shows that I trust him although he doesn’t always trust me. What is over is over. Three times already. Let’s not let our internal issues spread out,” said Zahid.

Among the leaders who turned up to hear Zahid were deputy president Mohamad Hasan, vice-presidents Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Mahdzir Khalid, Supreme Council members Lokman Noor Adam and Ahmad Maslan, Rembau MP Khairy and deputy Youth chief Shahril Hamdan.

Meanwhile, Rembau Youth exco Ahmad Firdaus Saipudin said Zahid need not go on leave.

“The Umno Youth chief’s (Aysraf Wajdi Dusuki) call for the president to go on leave is only an opinion from the meeting and does not represent the grassroots.

“Zahid should continue to fight for us and be our president. As he has said today, he doesn’t feel any pressure over the charges.”

Judging by the turnout, the 29-year-old said the Zahid and Mohamad pairing appears to be a good one and has managed to rally the members.

Rasah Wanita chief Habsah Hamid said she still supports Zahid as the charges have not been proven.

“As he explained just now, the charges are just a political ploy by the government to weaken Umno. There’s no need for him to take a break.”

The 60-year-old believes that Zahid can fulfil his duties even if he is under a cloud.

“This roadshow is a very good way to explain the issues,” said Habsah.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT

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