KUALA LUMPUR – After a shockingly poor performance in the 15th general election yesterday, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi no longer has the support of the Federal Territories (FT) Women’s wing.
FT Wanita Umno leader Datuk Seri Zurainah Musa said the branch’s wing unanimously agree that Zahid should resign over the party’s worst-ever showing in a national election.
“We urge Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to resign as Barisan Nasional’s (BN) chairman and Umno president, immediately,” said Zurainah at a press conference here today.
“Umno needs a new party structure to allow us to be the people’s choice in the future.
“We regret and realise that the people have rejected Umno, but we accept and respect the decision made by the people in this election,” she added.
It appeared to be a difficult decision to convey, as Zurainah showed emotion and choked on her words as she spoke.
Other Umno voices today called for Zahid to step down, including Tan Sri Noh Omar who resigned as Selangor Umno liaison chief, Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi, Kota Raja Umno Youth, the Bukit Bintang Umno division, as well as MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon.
GE15 had been called early at Zahid’s insistence, despite concerns over monsoon season flooding.
BN won 30 seats after polling yesterday, down from 79 in the previous election in 2018. Coalition linchpin Umno, which won 54 seats in the previous election, won only 26 this time.
With no coalition winning a clear majority to form a new government in GE15, and with parties racing to negotiate alliances to do so and name a prime minister candidate, Zurainah said FT Wanita Umno was still firm that the party must not work with Pakatan Harapan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim or with DAP.
She said that this “no Anwar, no DAP” stand was decided at the Umno general assembly and cannot be violated.
When asked which coalition would be most suitable for BN to partner with, Zurainah responded with PAS and Bersatu, saying they were aligned with Umno in “sentiments”.
“Honestly, it is PAS, as they are very suitable – and why not Bersatu as well?” she said
“They are offshoots of Umno, and they are Malay-based parties. There is no problem to unite with these two parties,” she added.
She said if BN were to serve the new parliament term as an opposition coalition, it would not be able to make any impact on the people.
A statement by the vice chiefs of Umno divisions nationwide this evening also called for Zahid to step down as Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman immediately to take responsibility for the coalition's disastrous performance in GE15.
Likewise Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan should also step down, the group’s chairman Datuk Muhammad Annuar Mohd Yunos said. – The Vibes, November 20, 2022
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