Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today urged Umno members to not let their spirit be broken after its president was charged today.

The Rembau Umno division deputy chief, who lost to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the run for the party president's seat in June, turned up at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex about 10am to show his support for Zahid.

"Do not let your spirit be weakened (by this). There are many who are still with Umno.

"If you hear rumours that there are Umno MPs who no longer stay loyal to the party, today I come here, Annuar (Musa) comes here, we stay loyal.

"Our strength and loyalty, however, rest on the strength of the grassroots. Today, I see so many of you who came from far; this gives us the spirit to continue to fight," he said when addressing some 200 Zahid supporters who rallied outside the court complex this morning.

Khairy, who is also the former Youth and Sports Minister, said the case against Zahid was a challenging time for the party.

He said this could have been purposedly done to make the spirit of Umno members crumble.

"That's why I want to ask all of you to continue giving Umno and our leaders your undivided support so that no one would be able to bring down (our) struggle for agama, bangsa dan negara," he said.

Khairy was seen as one of Zahid's biggest critics in the party after the latter was elected as Umno president in the party election in June.

However, he was seen showing his support for Zahid openly when news broke out yesterday that Zahid was going to be charged, where Khairy posted supportive remarks for Zahid on his Instastory.

"I know I'm hard on you. But you're still my Presiden, sir. Please know that you are in my prayers tonight," said Khairy's caption which accompanied a photo of him hugging Zahid.