Zahid tells Isham to air grouses in meetings, latter declines to attend

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has told supreme council member Isham Jalil that he should attend tonight’s council meeting to air his grouses about Umno’s cooperation with DAP, especially since he has missed the last three.

"I hope Isham can find the courage to attend the supreme council meeting tonight. He has not come to the last three meetings.

"Then he can voice his opinion directly and say that he opposed Umno's collaboration with DAP when we formed the unity government with Pakatan Harapan," said Zahid at the Majlis Sumbangan Palestine gathering today.

The deputy prime minister was responding to questions about a Facebook video where Isham said Malays were rejecting Umno as the party had strayed from its core principles and was willing to act as “DAP’s lackey” in the coalition government.

Isham (above, right) also claimed that some in Umno had turned into DAP's biggest supporters.

The Umno supreme council is expected to hold a meeting at Menara Dato’ Onn at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur tonight.

Isham rebuffs Zahid

In an immediate response, Isham took to Facebook to say that he had no intention of attending tonight's meeting.

"I have said this before. I stand by my stance to protest and as long as Zahid decides to go into elections alongside DAP, I will protest and won’t attend meetings chaired by him where he can veto decisions.

"This is my second term in the supreme council and I can already anticipate what he will do in the meeting.

"Why should I do his bidding and seek a face-to-face meeting if he is sincere? Maybe the president can debate with me in a neutral arena,” said Isham, adding Zahid should not remain in denial about Malay voters rejecting Umno.

"If this situation continues, Umno will be destroyed in a few years. Don't let the party be destroyed because of self-interest.”

Isham said he was willing to resign from his post in the party, provided Zahid does the same.

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