[UPDATED] Zahid denies pushing for GE15 to evade criminal charges

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has vehemently denied that the party’s demand for an early election is a means for him to escape the multitude of criminal charges against him.

In his speech during a special briefing for Umno members at the World Trade Centre here today, Zahid stressed he has the utmost trust in the judiciary.

“For those who keep repeating that I am fearful of the criminal charges laid against me, they are actually the ones who are afraid of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, a humble servant of God, and they are the ones who are not confident and are even afraid of their own shadows.

"The fact is, I am pushing forward the voice of Umno members. Not the voice of those who wish for Umno to die.

“I would like to remind everyone that the push for a general election is not something new.

“We are not power crazy or acting in desperation despite some even slandering us of wanting positions,” he said to a roaring applause from some 3,000 Umno members.

The briefing today is held to rally the party following Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s imprisonment last Tuesday following the Federal Court’s decision to uphold the former prime minister’s conviction and sentence on seven counts of corruption involving RM42 million of funds from SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Zahid in his speech also claimed that opposition lawmakers were now asking for the general election to be held this year, saying this was perplexing as they were initially against snap polls.

“It is quite odd that they are asking for an election to be held soon. Why are they asking this now only after Datuk Seri Najib has been imprisoned?,'” said Zahid, who is facing two corruption trials over funds from charity foundation Yayasan Akalbudi and for receiving bribes for extending a company’s contract to handle a foreign visa system.

The Bagan Datuk MP stressed that it was a decision by Umno collectively to push for an early election and he, along with the Supreme Council, has been taking active steps to this effect.

He denied that he was acting in any personal interest.

He also reminded party members that the current government, led by Prime <inister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is an Umno vice-president, is  “hybrid” in nature and is only in power because of cooperation with other political parties.

It is notable that Zahid’s audience booed each time Ismail Sabri’s name was mentioned by Zahid.

Despite this, Zahid had cautioned party members against factionalism and doubled their efforts towards the election.

Ismail Sabri was absent from the special briefing to attend events in his own constituency in Bera, Pahang.

Other Umno cabinet members absent at Zahid’s briefing were Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Khairy Jamaluddin.

Throughout Zahid’s speech, the attendees also shouted “bubar” (dissolve), clearly asking party leaders to push for a general election to be held soon. – The Vibes, August 27, 2022