[UPDATED] Zahid, Najib resigned to never being PM: Umno chief

KUALA LUMPUR – Umno’s annual general assembly concluded today on a conciliatory note with party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressing his support for Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob as prime minister.

Zahid, in his winding up speech today, said his party vice-president had always been Umno’s choice for the country’s top post when he personally nominated Ismail Sabri during a supreme council meeting.

“I have never been jealous of Ismail Sabri, because I was the one who put forth his name.

“Ask the 43 lawmakers. After the supreme council meeting, I told them there is only one candidate that I will nominate, which is Ismail Sabri.”

Responding to questions as to who will lead Umno as the prime minister in the next general election, he vaguely hinted it would be between two leaders – deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan or Ismail Sabri.

However, he ruled out his name and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, saying, “Bossku and I have accepted our fate (that we will never be the next prime minister).”

“If Tok Mat wants (to be the prime minister), just wait. If Tok Mat has ‘rezeki’, maybe after GE16. If Tok Mat’s ‘rezeki’ is in fact after GE15, then that’s his ‘rezeki’,” he said in jest.

Elaborating on the matter, Zahid divulged details of his meeting with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom he did not name.

He claimed that he was invited to defect to Bersatu and asked to dissolve Umno.

“The prime minister who governed the country for 22 months met me and invited me to be a ‘frog’ to jump to Bersatu, as well as asked me to dissolve Umno.

“After 10 days, when I refused to dissolve Umno, I was dragged to court. But it is not a problem for Umno and our crusade.

“The same goes to ‘bossku’ and other friends in the likes of Ku Nan, Tok Azeez and Tok Bung. But Mat Maslan is clever, he has been freed.”

Several MPs from Umno, which was previously a coalition ally in Muhyiddin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, are currently facing court charges.

They are Umno heavyweights Zahid, Najib, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim. 

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan was acquitted on September 29 of a money-laundering charge involving RM2 million, and another charge for giving a false statement to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

The term “court cluster” is generally understood to refer to the group of Umno leaders and lawmakers facing graft allegations in court.

Umno determined to field 70% fresh faces in GE15

In related news, he reiterated calls for Ismail Sabri to not wait any longer to have a discussion with the cabinet and seek an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to dissolve the Parliament soonest.

At the same time, he said that he will be fielding 70% of fresh faces in the coming general election.

“After deliberating with the ‘Top 5’, I am determined to field 70% of new faces in GE15. 

“For those who are 50 years and below and are ‘wali’ – winnable, acceptable and likeable – we will consider.

“Don’t worry, Youth, Puteri and Wanita. We will give you seats,” he said. – The Vibes, March 19, 2022