Who gave DAP tender to pick our party chief? Umno Youth fires back at Sheikh Umar

An Umno Youth leader has hit back at Johor DAP deputy chairperson Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali after the latter called for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's resignation as deputy prime minister.

Sheikh Umar also urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to remove Zahid as his second-in-command and choose another successor from among Umno leaders.

Larkin assemblyperson Hairi Shah questioned when a DAP politician had been given the mandate to decide who should lead Umno or which of its leaders was fit to replace its president.

“If he is really so fond of preparing lists of replacements, he should send that list to his own party. Umno has never opened a tender for DAP to choose its president,” he said in a statement.

Sheikh Umar suggested Defence Minister Khaled Nordin or Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Johari Abdul Ghani as possible candidates to replace Zahid, claiming that both were more committed to safeguarding the government and the country’s reputations.

'Cooperation doesn't give DAP power over Umno'

Hairi also took issue with the DAP senator’s criticism of Zahid’s remarks at the Umno general assembly, including his accusation that the Umno president was “making a fool” of Anwar.

He pointed out that Zahid (above) was addressing Umno delegates about the party’s future and interests while making clear that Umno would remain in the unity government until the end of its term.

“Perhaps the senator in question did not read that part, or deliberately left it aside because that fact undermines the political narrative he is trying to sell,” he added.

For Hairi, the more fundamental issue was that cooperation within the unity government did not give one coalition partner the right to dictate the internal affairs of another.

“Umno joined the unity government as a party with dignity, principles, and a voice - not as a passenger that must remain silent, bow down, and nod to every demand from DAP,” he added.

Hairi also rejected the suggestion that voicing concerns over government policies amounted to opposing the administration, arguing that political parties within a coalition could disagree while remaining committed to the government.

'Respect must be mutual'

The Umno Youth leader further accused Sheikh Umar (below) of attempting to pit Umno leaders against one another by suggesting that some were more committed or qualified to replace Zahid.

“Do not try to pit Umno leaders against one another. Umno is not a subsidiary of DAP. Umno also does not need a ‘remote control’ from any DAP leader,” he added.

Hairi said Umno Youth stood firmly behind Zahid and the party leadership, stressing that respect between partners in the unity government had to be mutual.

“We respect our partners in the unity government, but respect must be mutual, and boundaries must be observed. Take care of your own house before trying to rearrange the furniture in someone else’s,” he added.

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