Wanita Umno rallies behind Zahid amid calls for him to quit

 

Wanita Umno leaders have come to the defense of party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi amid calls for him to step down following their disastrous outing at the state polls.

Perak Wanita Umno vice-chief Salina Samsudin said she and her friends will remain steadfast behind Zahid until the “kudis and kurap” (scabies and ringworms) that have infected the party, are rid of.

“Umno is ill now. Umno is wounded... we have scabies and ringworms, we have cancer, but we are being treated.

“To all the scabies and ringworms that have been cast away, don’t dream about being welcomed back. Just sit (wherever you are), quietly,” she said.

She was delivering a speech at a Wanita Umno solidarity event held for Zahid at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.

Although Salina did not mention names, it is believed she was referring to those who have called for a leadership change in Umno, following the party’s drubbing at the state polls.

Among those are Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh who subtly called for party reform to regain the people’s trust, and former Terengganu Umno chief Idris Jusoh who explicitly called for Zahid to quit.

According to Salina, the women’s wing would remain loyal not only to Zahid but to whoever holds the leadership mantle of the party.

She called those who were unhappy with the party to quit instead.

“We love our ayah (father) and will defend him. Whoever becomes the president of our institution, we will defend.”

Emulate PAS ‘walauns’

Meanwhile, Kelantan Wanita Umno chief Nor Wahida Patuan urged Umno members to emulate the spirit of PAS ‘walauns’ (hardcore supporters) who remain loyal even if their party fails.

She noted that such supporters have never called for their president to step down, even if the party only wins a single seat.

“We must learn from the ‘walauns’, they are always loyal.

“In 1986, PAS lost and only had one (seat), and eventually got seven seats. The PAS grassroots did not pressure their president to quit, they remained steadfast behind them.”

Negeri Sembilan Wanita Umno chief Bibi Sharliza Mohd Khalid slammed Umno members for echoing Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin in calling for Zahid to step down.

If ever changes are needed, it should be to the way the party operates, and not to the leadership, she said.

“We unanimously support the president, and we will continue to fight for Umno.

“Change the way of governance, not the president. There must be respect and loyalty. As bad as PAS or PKR can be, the parties have never called for their presidents to step down.

“Only we (Umno) are following Muhyiddin’s call. It is he (Muhyiddin) who should quit,” she said.

Also present at the event were Wanita Umno chief Noraini Ahmad and party supreme council member Ahmad Shabery Cheek. - Mkini