UMNO has denied receiving any official notification regarding the alleged resignation of its Youth Chief, Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh, which has been circulating widely on social media today.
Party Secretary-General Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki stressed that the party does not base its leadership decisions on speculation or rumours circulating online. “No. So far, no official letter has been received.
“As Secretary-General of the party, we do not rely on what is said on social media or the chatter going around,” he said when commenting on the matter.
Earlier reports claimed that Dr Akmal had expressed his intention to step down both as UMNO Youth Chief and as the Merlimau state assemblyman.
According to sources close to UMNO, Dr Akmal allegedly informed a group of Youth leaders via a WhatsApp message yesterday, while he is currently in Shanghai, China.
In response, Asyraf Wajdi personally advised Dr Akmal not to be disheartened by differences of opinion within the party.
“Personally, as an elder brother to Dr Akmal who also had a responsibility in placing him in that position [as Youth Chief], differences of views are normal. I too was once Youth Chief, and at one point my views were not accepted by all of the Supreme Council, but that did not require me to step down or lose spirit because that is part of organisational tradition.
“Sometimes our views are accepted, sometimes they are not. But the most important principle in UMNO is to always follow syura. Agree to disagree, and if there is disagreement, eventually we reach a consensus,” he said.
The party’s statement appears aimed at quelling growing speculation and emphasising internal consultation and consensus-building as the guiding principles for leadership decisions. - January 9, 2025
