KUALA LUMPUR – Umno must look at alternative strategies to progress into the next general election should its president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi be found guilty of corruption by the court.
This was the message by Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin who said the party ought to enter the national polls with a clean slate in a bid to capture public support.
He said this when asked if he was concerned that the ongoing Zahid trials, including the one involving Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB), would tarnish Umno’s image.
“There is no issue. If the court delivers a guilty verdict, then it means he (Zahid) is guilty. Only then we will discuss its effects on Umno,” he said at a press conference in Angkasapuri here today.
“However, if the court finds Zahid innocent, then perhaps it will be good for our name. We don’t know yet as the cases are ongoing. But we in Umno will be praying for our president.
“But as mentioned, if he is guilty, then Umno must find the best way forward, so we can enter into the election in a situation where Umno is clean and accepted by the rakyat.”
Zahid is currently on trial after facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to more than RM40 million from UKSB during his tenure as home minister, in the case involving the country’s foreign Visa system.
Separately, he is also on trial after being slapped with 47 charges of criminal breach of trust, corruption, and money laundering involving Yayasan Akalbudi.
According to Zahidi, the revelations made during the UKSB trial were never brought up nor discussed in Umno Supreme Council meetings, saying that it would be improper to elaborate on ongoing court cases.
On a separate matter, Zahidi said he is of the opinion that holding a general election in the near future would benefit Umno the most.
However, he added that similarly crucial to ensuring Umno’s victory in the upcoming polls will be the timing of the Parliament dissolution.
“If we feel we are ready, then we must do it quickly. For instance, the rakyat is with us now, the economy is doing okay, and if everything goes well with the 2023 Budget tabling in October, then the government should call for an election soonest.
“We must do it at the best time. We will discuss this in the supreme council meeting, or perhaps the Umno top five will decide... The sooner the better.”
Umno’s top leadership has been pushing for early polls, although Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is understood to be in favour of holding off the election amid the current inflation.
Zahid is facing 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to SG$13.56 million (RM43.12 million) from UKSB for himself as home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of OSC service in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the contract agreement to supply the VLN integrated system to the same company by the Home Ministry.
For another seven counts, Zahid was charged with obtaining for himself SG$1,150,000, RM3 million, €15,000 (RM69,440) and US$15,000 (RM66,270) from the same company, which has official links with his official duty.
He was charged with committing all the offences at Seri Satria, Precinct 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights Kajang between October 2014 and March 2018. – The Vibes, June 21, 2022
