AHMAD Zahid Hamidi said today he is staying put as Umno president whatever the outcome of a Supreme Council meeting on Friday.
He said he would not budge from the top post that he was elected to in late June, he said.
“Definitely. I am very firm about my position, regardless of whatever happens (in the meeting),” he said in Penang when asked about the upcoming meeting.
One of the agenda at the meeting is the Umno Youth wing’s proposal for Zahid to go on leave until his criminal charges are settled.
The former deputy prime minister is facing 45 counts of criminal breach of trust, abuse of power and money-laundering involving RM114.15 million.
Of the total, RM21.25 million was allegedly for kickbacks for approving projects related to foreign-worker recruitment when he was home minister.
The 27 charges of money-laundering concern RM72.06 million, including the purchase of two bungalow lots in Kajang totalling RM5.9 million.
Zahid is also facing 10 counts of criminal breach of trust involving nearly RM20.83 million belonging to a foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi, of which he is a trustee.
Zahid was in Penang, the fourth stop in his nationwide roadshow to meet local Umno leaders and grassroots after he was charged in court.
Addressing more than 1,000 party members at the Safira Country Club in Seberang Jaya, Zahid said he will not be pressured to “undur” (step aside) as party president as long as he has the mandate of the delegates.
“I will continue to lead Umno to become a stronger party. There are some asking me to go on leave, but I will not bow or fear any pressure.
“They (Umno’s enemies) are using internal elements to pressure me. They have ulterior motives (udang di sebalik batu).
“Pressure the president to take leave. When the deputy takes over, he is pressured the same way, too. Then the same happens to the vice-presidents and the other leaders… So in the end, Umno will die off.
“Umno is more than 70 years old. Don’t try to scare us.”
In his hour-long speech, Zahid also said he is facing so many charges because he was “stubborn”.
He said he turned down requests to cross over to Pakatan Harapan and dissolve Umno more than once after the 14th general election that ousted Barisan Nasional.
He said “Tun” told him to jump ship but did not mention Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad by name. He also said the offer to cross over was not even for all BN lawmakers.
Zahid said funds involving the Akalbudi foundation run by his family were all spent for charity to benefit orphans and mosques, including some overseas.
“I never took a single sen from the foundation. It was all for charitable causes. Also, no way I was going to leave Umno and take down the party.
“I represent 3.6 million Umno members nationwide. I will face the consequences. It is a political persecution. People who ‘hopped’ (from Umno to PH) don’t get charged.”
THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT
Source | https://malaysiansmustknowthetruth.blogspot.com/2018/11/i-will-not-step-down-or-take-leave.html
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