Umno Youth turns 77: Akmal stresses courage, Zahid says wisdom matters too

 

As Umno Youth marks its 77th anniversary, its chief, Dr Akmal Saleh, called on the wing to uphold the courage to defend its principles, while a predecessor of his, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, cautioned that courage must be tempered with wisdom.

In a Facebook post, Akmal said a nation’s strength could be seen in its youth, particularly when they dared to stand by their principles and press on despite challenges.

“Youth are not moulded by comfort. Youth are shaped by the courage to continue standing when others choose to remain silent, and by the loyalty to keep holding on when the struggle no longer promises praise,” he said.

The Merlimau assemblyperson said that throughout its 77-year history, Umno Youth had been more than a means of extending the party’s longevity; it served as the torchbearer of a struggle inherited from previous generations.

“For 77 years, Umno Youth has not merely been the extension of the party’s existence. We are the lifeblood of a struggle.

“Let us not merely inherit the name of this struggle. Let us also inherit the courage to carry and defend it,” he added.

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh

Meanwhile, Zahid, who is also Umno president, said times had changed, and courage alone was no longer enough.

According to Umno Online, he said the wing’s challenges had evolved, particularly in navigating technological advances, shifting mindsets, and the increasingly diverse voices of younger generations.

“That is why courage alone is not enough. It must be guided by wisdom, accompanied by knowledge, and translated into ideas and actions that are appropriate to the changing times,” said the deputy prime minister.

Zahid also recalled how his experience in Umno Youth shaped his understanding of what it meant to fight for a cause, understand the grassroots, and shoulder responsibility when the party needed the energy, ideas, and courage of its younger generation.

“It was in the Umno Youth ‘factory’ that I learned the meaning of struggle, understood the pulse of the grassroots, and realised that being in Youth is not merely about being at the forefront, but being ready to shoulder responsibility where the party needs the energy, ideas, and courage,” he said.

Turbulent past to wider doors

Zahid’s tenure as Umno Youth chief was marked by a tumultuous period, including his arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA) about three weeks before then-party deputy president Anwar Ibrahim was sacked in September 1998.

Perceived to be aligned with Anwar, Zahid found himself at odds with then-Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In 2016, Zahid’s daughter Nurulhidayah recalled that her father had been detained for 10 days before being released in Kuala Lumpur, where he was allegedly left blindfolded on a highway.

Zahid said Umno Youth’s major task today was to ensure the party remained relevant to younger generations by creating greater opportunities for them to contribute their views, talents, and ideas.

He said Umno needed to build young people’s confidence that they were not merely joining an organisation but a cause.

“We must have the courage to open the doors wider, listen to their views, make room for new talent, and build the confidence that in Umno, young people are not merely an addition, but the inheritors of the struggle,” he added. - Mkini