Najib has his views and I have mine - KJ on Zahid's return

Umno members unhappy with the return of Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has little options but to go along with the party's position on the matter until the next party elections due in three years, according to Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin (photo, above).

Commenting on former Umno president Najib Abdul Razak's call for members to unite and accept Zahid's return, Khairy said both of them are entitled to their opposing views on the matter.

"He (Najib) can say whatever he wants...He has his views and I have my mine.

"Najib said we should all just accept Zahid, and I still maintain that the Supreme Council should have discussed it first," the Rembau Umno division chief said during a press conference after a forum in Kuala Lumpur today.

"But if the feeling is that we should accept it, then that is the party's position.

"I have a different view but as a party member, I have to abide by the party's decision," said Khairy.

In launching the Setiawangsa Umno division meeting this morning, Najib called on party members to refrain from triggering "internal chaos" and accept Zahid's return as president.

The former prime minister also said any members unhappy with Zahid should wait for the Bagan Datuk MP's mandate to end in three years.

Commenting further, Khairy said voices within Umno that were critical of Zahid's position as president had made their stand clear.

"The Umno Youth has made its position clear. I have made my positions clear.

"But if the person still wants to hang around and if the Umno Supreme Council decides to give that support, there is nothing we can do," he said.

Zahid went on leave in December last year amid pressure for him to step aside as party president.

At that time, his opponents within Umno had criticised him for what they claimed was a lack of direction.

Zahid also presided over an exodus of lawmakers from the party, with threats of further defection if he did not step down.

He finally relented, and on Dec 18, announced that deputy president Mohamad Hasan would take over as acting president.

Just hours before Zahid announced his return on June 30, Khairy – a close ally of Mohamad – had said Zahid should first seek the opinion of the Umno supreme council before announcing his return. - Mkini