It’s time to step aside, Khairy tells Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: It may be a short tweet, but the message is strong, particularly at a time when Umno is facing turmoil with many elected representatives abandoning ship.
Commenting on a news report of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi saying that he could be removed from his position only at the party’s general assembly, Khairy Jamaluddin said it was time for him to go.
“Step aside, sir. It’s time,” the former Umno Youth chief tweeted at 1pm yesterday.
It garnered 1,405 retweets with over 1,600 likes in two hours.
This is not the first time Khairy has made the call, although the latest is more direct compared with a tweet he posted on Friday.
That tweet was a response to a suggestion for Umno’s wings and Supreme Council to demand Zahid’s resignation.
“Umno must call for an immediate EGM (extraordinary general meeting) and have a party election to elect a new leadership),” @SyedRifqi99 posted.
Khairy replied: “Agreed. Immediate party election.”
In the last Umno election, Khairy lost to Zahid in the presidential race.
Zahid’s leadership is being questioned as member of parliaments and assemblymen leave Umno.
Sabah Umno was nearly crippled when its state liaison chairman, Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Nor, announced his departure along with more than 20 state leaders.
This was followed by six Umno MPs in the peninsula quitting the party on Friday.
Umno has postponed a special Supreme Council meeting scheduled for today, according to deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
“Yes, postponed until further notice.”
The previous Umno Supreme Council meeting chaired by Zahid was on Nov 9.