“If Zahid is not removed as soon as possible, I assure Puad Zarkashi that my warnings will echo through time long after UMNO has faded into a dim memory”
Raggie Jessy Rithaudeen
ڤواد زركاشي هاروس برهنتي سالهكن ‘اورڠ بونيان’ دان سوروه زاهيد بروندور سبلوم امنو هنچور
FOR LATEST NEWS, JOIN OUR TELEGRAM CHANNEL HERE
UMNO’s Puad Zarkashi has accused several party leaders, who recently pledged to remain in the party to mend it from within, for not doing anything when it lost power in the 14th general election (GE14).
According to a report, the Umno Supreme Council member said the actions of some had almost wrecked the party.
This included not toeing the party line, forming their own “clusters” and making decisions unilaterally.
He said such actions did not help the party which was in the crosshairs of its rivals.
“There are ways to revive UMNO. Honour the party’s decisions, do not make your own decisions. Do not make statutory declarations.
“When you are a leader, act like it. When you are an ordinary member, act like it,” he said in a Facebook post.
However, what Puad fails to realise – or is pretending not to realise – is the fact that Zahid is the architect of UMNO’s destruction and has relegated the party to a “has been.”
Following UMNO’s poor showing in 2018, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak owned up to his role in the debacle and stepped down as party president.
Zahid took over the reins but was soon plagued with criminal charges and did the right thing by taking a break to focus on his court cases.
Mohamad Hasan took over temporarily and successfully negotiated a working relationship with PAS.
However, when the time came to formalise the relationship in ink, Zahid made a sudden return to claim credit.
It wasn’t long before Zahid engaged in a series of back and forth with PAS leaders over allegiances after the Islamic party ticked UMNO off for refusing to join Perikatan Nasional.
PAS was pissed off with Zahid for reneging on his promise to bring Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) into Muafakat Nasional.
As a result, the Islamic party was forced to register Perikatan Nasional together with Bersatu.
This upset Zahid, who then accused PAS of betraying UMNO.
Things went to pot when PAS decided to partner with Bersatu during the 15th general election, seeing that UMNO was adamant about not wanting to work with Perikatan Nasional.
PAS’ Syura Council also got wind that Zahid and his cohorts had engaged Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and several DAP leaders in discussions towards the establishment of a working relationship, involving Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan.
These discussions began even before Langkah Sheraton and progressed way into Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri’s tenure as Prime Minister.
Not many know, Zahid tried desperately on multiple occasions to convince Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament to support Anwar as Prime Minister, even going so far as to lie to Istana Negara that all Barisan Nasional MPs supported Anwar.
All of this caused distrust among UMNO leaders and fractured the party to unimaginable proportions.
This led to the establishment of the various camps Puad is referring to, and almost all of these camps are against Zahid and want him to resign.
Zahid had all the time in the world to rebrand UMNO, but chose instead to scheme with Anwar to help the latter become Prime Minister.
Whenever someone in UMNO criticised or advised Zahid, that person would usually be accused of something or other and would either be sacked or suspended from the party.
Puad accused UMNO leaders of not toeing the party line, but forgets that Zahid openly declared that UMNO leaders were free to do as they wish, referring to reports that some Members of Parliament supported Anwar.
Mohamad Hasan even went so far as to say that UMNO no longer prevents its leaders from criticising or having differing opinions.
Mohamad said this back in 2018 when Khairy Jamaluddin openly criticised UMNO’s leadership.
These decisions have yet to be rescinded, meaning, the recent action by UMNO’s supreme council against Tan Sri Annuar Musa is illegal, insofar as the party constitution goes.
So stop turning everyone in UMNO into bogeymen and focus on the elephant in the room, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
If Zahid is not removed as soon as possible, I assure Puad Zarkashi that my warnings will echo through time long after UMNO has faded into a dim memory.
