Zahid emptied out Umno office after announcing handover - source

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is said to have emptied out his office at the Dato' Onn Tower in Putra World Trade Centre.

According to a source, Zahid collected his personal belongings at the office as soon as he announced he was handing over the president's duties to his deputy Mohamad Hasan last Tuesday.

The source also said Zahid made this decision on his own without any external pressures.

However, it is uncertain whether the office is being cleared out permanently or just while Mohamad is carrying out the duties of president.

"Zahid cleared out his personal belongings at his office (Umno president's office) after he made the announcement to hand over his duties to Tok Mat (Mohamad).

"He (Zahid) said it is okay (to clear out his office) because the decision has already been made," the source told Malaysiakini.

Last Tuesday, Zahid announced his decision to transfer his duties to his deputy Mohamad with immediate effect.

He said he made this decision to save Umno to prevent more leaders and representatives from leaving the party.

"If it is true I am the main reason (for those leaving the party), then the best decision for me is to trust Mohamad to carry out the duties of president."

A photograph of the first Umno supreme council meeting chaired by Mohamad today went viral on social media (photo) as it purportedly showed that a picture of Zahid had been removed from the meeting room.

Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman told Malaysiakini that he was unaware about the removal of Zahid’s picture.

However, Tajuddin, who is also Pasir Salak MP, said he believed the viral photograph had been edited by certain parties.

Although Zahid had handed over his duties to Mohamad, the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar is still not the party president according to the party constitution.

This is because the Umno constitution does not have a provision for an acting president. - Mkini