KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has bemoaned the lack of a government post, saying all he can do to serve the people is by listening to their concerns.
The Umno president, who is also Bagan Datuk MP, said in a Facebook post today that the only platform he had to air the people’s grouses – Parliament – has been suspended due to the emergency declaration.
Zahid added that he will continue to use social media instead as many have sought him out to draw his attention to bread-and-butter issues.
“I hope all of you understand that I am in no position to make decisions on behalf of the government. I am the president of Umno and chairman of Barisan Nasional (BN) who does not hold the reins of the administration,” he said.
He added that what he can do in his limited capacity is to continue giving the people’s concerns a voice, but also said that if the matters he raises are ignored by those in power, he “can only apologise”.
While he acknowledges that there are several MPs from BN appointed as ministers and deputy ministers, Zahid said the posts are not partisan in nature.
“In fact, there are powers that precede them.”
Zahid was appointed deputy prime minister in July 2015 after his predecessor Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, now prime minister, was sacked from the position for his vocal stand against Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Zahid lost his position less than three years later following BN’s defeat to Pakatan Harapan in May 2018, and when Perikatan Nasional came to power March last year, he was still not made part of the cabinet.
The Umno president has since been using his social media platforms to issue statements and broadcast issues affecting the public. – The Vibes, February 2, 2021
