KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi tonight announced that his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan will be assuming the duties of the president in the wake of the crisis that has befallen the party.
Pursuant to this, he said that he hoped all polemics on the leadership of the party will cease and asked leaders at the grassroots level to focus on efforts to strengthen Umno.
“In the wake of the crisis faced by the party, I am taking the decision to place the trust in the deputy president to assume the duties of the president,“ he said in a statement here.
He also called for no more crossovers by Umno MPs and assemblymen after this (his handing over powers to the Number Two).
He added that the grassroots were hoping for Umno leaders to close ranks in the spirit of the party’s new slogan “Umno Bangkit” (Umno Rises Again).
A number of Umno elected representatives from Sabah and the peninsula have ditched the party of late and have openly voiced their support for the Pakatan Harapan government.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid in a live streaming on Facebook Umno Online explained that there were five camps in Umno now, one of which was of hardcore supporters who did not want the Malay party to ally with any other party.
Of the other four, he said one wanted Umno to ally with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), another for the party to forge a collaboration with PKR, a pro-PAS camp and anti-DAP camp.
“In this respect, towards winning the 15th general election, I accede to the resolution adopted by the heads of Umno’s wings and divisional leaders at their retreat for Umno not to join any party.
“We must play the role of opposition, rebuild our strength and regain our solidarity. As for working with the DAP, we reject it 100%,” he said in the “Wacana U 3.0:Heart-to-Heart with the Umno President” programme held at Menara Dato Onn here tonight. — Bernama
