Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should call for a special general assembly to seek a vote of confidence in his leadership, says party veteran Mohd Yussof Latiff.

Yussof said that according to Clause 8.5 of the Umno constitution, a special general assembly can be held in any of three situations – upon a call from the president, upon a written request from two-thirds of the supreme council, and upon a written request by at least half of the total number of party divisions.

“If Zahid made the call, it would be an honourable move as he should really ask for a vote of confidence. 

"However, if the request comes from the second and third sources, it would be seen as if they were seeking for a vote of no-confidence in his leadership.

“So, it is better for Zahid, as the president, to call for a special Umno general himself assembly to be held in a week's time,” he told a press conference in George Town today.

Yussof (photo) said this in response to the numerous calls, including from former Umno leaders, for Zahid to resign as party president.

The Penang Malays' Association (Pemenang) president said the former deputy prime minister should consider the calls for the sake of Umno's future, and also to focus on clearing his name in court as he had been slapped with various criminal charges.

When asked if there was a possibility that Umno would ‘die’, the party veteran said Umno should not be left to do so, as the country's independence is a result of the struggles and sacrifices made by previous leaders.

“We cannot change history just because we are angry and we hate certain individuals and Umno leaders. 

"What we should get rid of are those who lack integrity, dishonest, untrustworthy, and those who are using Umno to benefit themselves, their families and their cronies," he said.

- Bernama