ZAHID: I’M NOT TAKING LEAVE FROM UMNO

Supreme Council meeting did not discuss issue, says president

THE Umno Supreme Council meeting yesterday did not discuss matters relating to the call for the party president to take leave pending his court cases.

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who chaired the meeting, said not one council member raised the matter.

“No discussion (on that matter). But while we celebrate difference in opinion, we have opted to put a full stop on the matter and move forward.

“We reject efforts to divide the party internally and externally,” Zahid said after the meeting.

Last month, Umno Youth had asked for Zahid to take leave from his role as party president to focus on his court case.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the decision was made so that Zahid would not be burdened by other matters facing the party.

Zahid was slapped with 45 charges of criminal breach of trust, graft and money laundering, involving millions of ringgit.

The party president maintained that the Youth wing had merely requested the leadership to consider the suggestion.

“They (Youth wing) had only requested for it to be considered.”

Zahid said Umno would lead joint efforts with Pas and nongovernmental organisations against the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).

“We will spearhead the programmes and campaigns against ICERD, which contravenes the Federal Constitution.

“I will be on the same stage with Pas president (Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang) from Nov 17 for a series of campaign beginning in Pasir Salak.”

On international rating body Moody’s Investors Service providing Petronas with a negative outlook, Zahid expressed disappointment with the government’s lack of efforts to preserve the national oil and gas company’s reserves.

“We are sad that Petronas reserves had been used to cover the budget’s deficit at RM30 billion. Last year’s dividend was RM20 billion.

On matters relating to claims that 40 Umno members of parliament would cross over to Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, Zahid said he was confident that they would not do so.

“We have 48 MPs. I am confident that they will remain with us. Decisions would be made collectively and they do not want to leave Umno.”

PIC BY SAIRIEN NAFIS Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaking to the media after chairing an Umno Supreme Council meeting in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. With him is deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan (left) and vice-president Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.