Zahid to meet and ask Akmal, 'Who do you want to attack?'

UMNO AGM | Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said he will be meeting with youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh to clarify matters following the Merlimau assemblyperson’s resignation as a Malacca state executive councillor.

Met by reporters, Zahid (above), when asked whether Akmal’s resignation will affect cooperation among parties in government, said: “I want to know - I will meet him. Who does he want to attack in this matter?”

Zahid also denied that Akmal’s move announced during his speech at the Umno Youth general assembly will serve as added “pressure” for Umno.

“I don’t think that it is (added) pressure because (Ab) Rauf (Yusoh) knows what to do after this,” he said in reference to the Malacca chief minister.

Earlier in his speech, Akmal had announced his resignation as Malacca state executive councillor for rural development, agriculture, and food security.

“I am brave enough to state that I am resigning to ‘lawan DAP habis-habisan’ (fight DAP till the end),” he said to applause and cheers from the delegates.

The announcement was also made in Rauf’s presence.

Earlier, Rauf said he respected Akmal’s move to resign, but a decision will only be made after he receives an official letter on the matter.

‘Personal decision’

Zahid further confirmed that Akmal had discussed the matter with him and Rauf, but it was ultimately a personal decision.

“I respect his stance to resign as a Malacca state exco.

“Perhaps with that, he will have enough time and space to go down to the grassroots, especially to the divisions.

“Because we have 191 youth divisions, and hopefully this will be an opportunity for him to go down and mobilise the Umno Youth machinery,” said Zahid.

Akmal had also repeated his views on the possibility of reviving Umno’s “Muafakat Nasional” pact with PAS, which Zahid had previously rejected.

Zahid reiterated today that a final decision lies with Umno’s top leadership in the supreme council, of which Akmal is also a member.

“He (Akmal) can present his views at the next supreme council meeting,” he added.

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