About 100 "hardcore" Umno supporters from Terengganu showed up outside the Shah Alam High Court court complex this morning in solidarity with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The group boarded two buses, chartered for RM1,000 each with their own money, from the east coast state at 9.30pm yesterday, before reaching Shah Alam at about 5am today.
Asri Zakaria, a special aide to former menteri besar Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman, led the entourage.
He said the group comprised “hardcore” Umno supporters loyal to the party for decades, and the trip was planned since last month.
"We, as supporters, are sad that our (party) president was charged. Our president is a strong-willed person.
"If he is not so, Umno would have been destroyed," Asri told Malaysiakini when met at the court compound.
Members of the group, mainly men and women in their 50s and 60s, were clad in white tops and black trousers.
One supporter described how she became emotional upon seeing the Bagan Datuk MP at the court.
"When Zahid got out of his car, tears flowed freely. He is one of the veteran Umno leaders.
"The women present today are all strong-willed and we believe that Umno can rise up again. We hope the court will pass a fair judgment so the case does not end up like (former premier) Najib Abdul Razak's," said the woman who only wanted to be known as Che Ngah.
Earlier, Zahid was acquitted of all graft charges in relation to the Foreign Visa System (VLN).
Shah Alam High Court judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa ruled that the prosecution failed to prove a prima facie case and its three key witnesses were unreliable.
'Zahid not arrogant'
Che Ngah further shared that she had been an Umno member since she was 17, and her husband is also a staunch party supporter.
"Zahid is not arrogant when mixing around with the people, and we respect him for that. 'Bossku' (Najib) is also the same," the 63-year-old added.
Seberang Takir Umno women's wing branch chief Ramlah Ibrahim said aside from showing her solidarity with Zahid, she also intends to hold sessions to explain to villagers on the "real circumstances" surrounding the former deputy prime minister’s case, to prevent misinterpretation.
"We appreciate his (Zahid's) contributions. So we are here, even though we had to spend our own money.
"I have been an Umno member for 40 years, and never once have I had doubts about Zahid," she added.
Kuala Nerus Umno committee member Mustaffa Ismail said Zahid was a "person who had been wronged."
The 53-year-old recalled initially fearing that Zahid might also end up in prison, like Najib who is serving a 12-year jail sentence for corruption and abuse of power over the SRC International case.
"Zahid only wanted to help the rakyat," Mustaffa said.
Another attendee who wanted to be known as Cikgu Din said he made it to Shah Alam all the way from Terengganu as Umno is "one with his soul".
"He (Zahid) is a strict leader who needs to lead the party," the 69-year-old added.
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