Don't let outsiders use us to topple Zahid, Umno veteran urges delegates

An Umno delegate representing party veterans today warned Umno members against being used by outsiders to topple their president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

In his debate speech at the Umno general assembly 2022, Mustapha Yaakub said the Umno Veterans Club believed that the party president and deputy president positions should be left uncontested in the next round of party polls.

He stressed that this was not because they like Zahid and his deputy Mohamad Hasan, but should be done to protect the party.

"Since we lost in the 15th general election, the Umno Veterans (Club) is of the view that there is no necessity to open the two top party positions for contest.

"Why? Is it because I like Zahid? Is it because I like Mat Hasan? Veterans are not like that. We veterans only think about Umno," he said.

Mustapha appeared to have an emotional breakdown after saying this, with his voice cracking as he struggled to continue his speech.

After taking a brief moment to regain himself, with other delegates giving him a round of applause as encouragement, Mustapha resumed speaking by telling the assembly that they should protect the party from outsiders.

Umno veteran Mustapha Yaakub

"We must defend this party. This time around, we should not have the two top posts contested.

"The party veterans and I are upset because we do not want to be used by outsiders. I will be honest here, our party president is disliked by people outside.

"I am not talking about the CIA or KGB. What I mean is people outside Umno, who have been trying to destroy Umno. These outsiders are using people within our party to bring down Zahid.

"This is what we do not want to happen. Please," he lamented.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi

The assembly is seeing an internal polemic as party delegates are split between those who do not want Umno president and deputy president posts open for competition, and those who are against any move to block the contest, which they said is undemocratic.

In the recent GE15, Umno suffered its worst election performance after only managing to secure 26 parliamentary seats.

The party has to hold its election before May 19, six months after the general polls. - Mkini