MARA chairman, Datuk Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, said he would never bow to the pressure of PKR Youth (AMK), who had called for his resignation following issues raised in the TH RCI report.
The UMNO Secretary-General stressed that his position in MARA was based on the appointment and mandate of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Rural and Regional Development (KKDW), Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Therefore, he said, any decision regarding his position is only subject to the instructions of the relevant ministry leadership, not at the insistence of any external party or the PKR youth wing.
"I was appointed by the Deputy Prime Minister, and he asked me to quit, I will. “But not at the insistence of any other party," he said at a special press conference ahead of the UMNO General Assembly (PAU) 2026 at Menara Dato' Onn.
Earlier, the AMK leadership urged Asyraf Wajdi to resign from his position in MARA, following allegations that he was involved in the Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) issue while holding the portfolio of Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) previously.
Reviewing his role throughout leading MARA, Asyraf Wajdi stressed that his commitment was to restore and streamline governance management so that the institution remains strong and is not tarnished by any negative perceptions.
Asyraf said his focus over the past three years had been on strengthening Mara's governance, education and Bumiputera entrepreneurship initiatives.
"This is not about Asyraf Wajdi. It is about Mara as an institution entrusted to safeguard the interests of the Malay community."
On another issue, he said the proposed establishment of the MARA Hospital was not just for Bumiputeras, but open to patients from all races.
He said that racial aspects should not be linked to the proposed establishment of the hospital.
He said that doctors, professionally, cannot choose patients based on race, and that is not the goal of establishing MARA Hospital.
“This has nothing to do with race. This hospital is for everyone. We will not choose patients.
“Professionally, doctors cannot choose whether to treat Bumiputeras or non-Bumiputeras. That is not our intention,” he added. – September 3, 2026
