Perak Umno shoots down calls for Zahid's ouster

Perak Umno has come to the defence of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi following calls for the party president to step down over BN's poor performance during the recent state elections, saying there was no need for such a move.

State party chief Saarani Mohamad revealed this was the position taken when the Perak Umno leadership met two nights ago.

He pointed out that there was never pressure on former DAP leader Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to resign when their parties failed in previous elections.

"When BN won the Malacca and Johor elections (in 2021 and 2022 respectively), no one asked Hadi or (Bersatu president) Muhyiddin Yassin to resign," he was quoted as saying by Harian Metro.

In those elections, BN won with a two-thirds majority while Perikatan Nasional won two out of 28 seats in Malacca and three out of 56 seats in Johor.

Saarani said during the six state elections on Aug 12, PN had 12 candidates who lost their deposits while there were none from BN.

"Yet, no one is asking for the PN chairperson to resign," he added.

During Saturday’s polls, only 19 out of BN's 108 candidates were successful. In contrast, 146 out of PN's 245 candidates found victory.

Don’t be influenced

Saarani advised Umno members not to allow PN leaders who are seeking Zahid's ouster to influence them.

"Let's not dance to their tune... Those who are singing this tune are people who are no longer in Umno, such as Annuar Musa and Khairy Jamaluddin," the Perak menteri besar said.

So far, very few figures in Umno have called for Zahid to step down. The most prominent among them was former Terengganu Umno chief Idris Jusoh.

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