DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) may no longer be at loggerheads with its firebrand UMNO counterpart chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh given the latter has given indication of stepping down from both his party position and as the Merlimau state assemblyman.
According to WhatsApp texts from UMNO sources sighted by Malaysiakini, the staunch defender of race and religion had apparently informed a group of UMNO Youth leaders such intention while he was still in Shanghai (attending to the liver transplant of a three-year old baby in which he donated RM120,000 personal savings for the cause).
As someone who loves this party deeply, I accept the party’s decision. But what is the meaning of leadership if we do not respect their voices (that of UMNO grassroots)
With humility, I feel that I must take full responsibility for the party that we love. Therefore, InsyaAllah after I return from Shanghai, I shall relinquish all my positions within the party as well as my position as an elected representative.
The voices of the people at the grassroots have been brought to the highest level of the party with only one aim – to ensure that UMNO remains close to the hearts of every Malay.
However, we didn’t succeed. This is not anyone’s fault but I take this as my own mistake and personal shortcoming.
Recall that the Melaka state EXCO for rural development, agriculture and food security had recently voiced his intention to quit his party post in the aftermath of party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reiterating UMNO’s pledge not to embark on any “backdoor manoeuvre” against the Madani government till “end of the term”.
Such stance obviously foils once and for all Akmal’s agenda of having forged ahead with the UMNO’s Direction in the Unity Government special convention last weekend (Jan 3) with the ultimate aim of making UMNO a “honourable Opposition” and the eventuality of reviving the PAS-UMNO Muafakat Nasional (MN) tie-up.
No official resignation yet
DAPSY chief Woo Kah Leong – who in recent times has turned Akmal’s biggest detractor – has most recently jibed his UMNO counterpart as being a hypocrite for not resigning immediately given his “I shall not budge from principle” rhetoric has become a joke.
This followed Akmal’s retaliation to party president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Zahid’s advice that leaders of its youth wing “must celebrate differences of opinions and be prepared to accept criticism”.
Commenting on Akmal’s resignation speculation, UMNO secretary-general Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki contended that he has yet to receive any official notification or “black-and-white” confirmation while stressing that the party’s leadership would not rely on social media posts or unverified claims on the matter.
What is more certain, however, is that UMNO will not bar its delegates from raising issues related to quitting the unity government or cooperating with PAS at the party’s annual general assembly next week (Jan 14-17).
While delegates are free to raise the topics, none of the 662 motions submitted to party headquarters thus far specifically mentions them, according to Asyraf.
“Officially, none of the motions submitted calls for leaving the unity government and there are no formal motions on cooperation with other parties, including PAS,” revealed the predecessor of Akmal at a media conference ahead of the assembly yesterday (Jan 9).
“But, as usual, we don’t prevent state and wing spokespersons from raising such issues.”
Interestingly, there seems to be a U-turn of some sort with the New Straits Times (NST) citing UMNO Youth exco member Aizat Azam late yesterday (Jan 9) as denying that the 38-year-old Russia-trained medical doctor is resigning but “will continue his duties as usual”.
This runs parallel with the FB post of Akmal’s close associate and neighbouring Duyong state assemblyman Datuk Mohd Noor Helmy Abdul Halem who stated that the former “has clocked in for duty at 1.15pm (yesterday/Jan 9 upon his return from Shanghai).
- focus Mmalaysia
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