KUALA LUMPUR – Umno will not be bogged down by narratives accentuated by political rivals attacking its party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, according to Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani.
The Federal Territories Umno liaison chairman said this in dismissing suggestions that Zahid is a liability to the party as it bids to recapture federal power in the coming general election.
Speaking to The Vibes, Johari said the personal charges levelled against the president — including his court cases and accusations of him positioning himself as the prime minister candidate — do not perturb him, as far as Umno’s chances are concerned.
“I’m not worried. I still trust the rakyat. We are not in the 1960s or 70s anymore. Our audiences are in the 21st century. They know how to think,” he said when met during his campaign trail.
“For us, if you are a sentiment-driven voter, then you will produce sentiment-driven leaders.
“And if you are an ill-informed voter, you will produce ill-informed leaders.”
In recent days, Zahid was said to be preparing himself as a possible prime minister in the event of a Barisan Nasional (BN) victory.
A purported document supposedly requiring Umno election candidates to support Zahid as the prime minister candidate as part of several conditions to contest in the election has also been making rounds, although party leaders have rubbished this.
Despite the denial, political opponents have been harping on the issue, ostensibly to influence voters not to support Umno to avoid Zahid rising to power.
Separately, Zahid has also been the target of attacks from opposition leaders and supporters over his court cases.
The Bagan Datuk incumbent MP is facing 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, graft, and money laundering concerning funds belonging to a charitable foundation, Yayasan Akalbudi.
Double-standard opposition should look in the mirror
Johari, who is also Umno Supreme Council member, described the political attacks against his president as unfair and hypocritical, seeing that leaders of other opposition parties are similarly mired in court cases.
Notably, he mentioned DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng, who was charged with alleged corruption involving the construction of the Penang undersea tunnel project, and Muda president, who is separately facing four charges of criminal breach of trust, misappropriation of funds, and money laundering.
“Why are you applying double standards? We subscribe to one principle, that is everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
“Has Zahid been found guilty? Lim? Syed Saddiq? No. But why is Zahid subject to all these (attacks) but not the other two? Why?"
Johari separately pointed out that, unlike the opposition, BN supporters do not resort to taking to the streets when their leaders are incarcerated, referring to the imprisonment of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Did you see Umno conducting demonstrations? No. But when Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was sent to prison during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s era, the whole of Kuala Lumpur was destroyed by these demonstrators.
“So, don’t fall into Pakatan Harapan’s narrative. Their intention is all about wresting power, nothing else,” he said.
In the coming general election, Johari looks to recapture Titiwangsa, the seat that he won in 2013 before losing it to Bersatu’s Datuk Seri Rina Harun during the 2018 polls by a majority of 4,139.
He will face Pakatan Harapan’s Khalid Abdul Samad, Perikatan Nasional’s Dr Rosni Adam and Pejuang’s Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan. Rina, meanwhile, is vying for the Sepang federal seat in this election. – The Vibes, November 7, 2022
