Is UMNO now divided on backing or outright opposing Akmal’s “no fear, no surrender” stand on flag row?
IS UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s recent remark of “don’t scapegoat” firebrand UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over the Jalur Gemilang row – but to enforce law on all – his personal opinion or that of the party?
Not only that this matter should best be addressed by party president and disciplinarian Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, statement of the Rembau MP and Foreign Minister has only emboldened Akmal whose notoriety has strained the party’s ties with DAP probably to the point of beyond repair.
After all, Zahid who has been tight-lipped on the matter had no qualms axing its former supreme council member and information chief Isham Jalil from the party in December 2023 purportedly for being critical over the party’s cooperation with DAP since the outcome of the six state elections in August 2023.
Beyond that, Zahid has also been instrumental in sacking a few renowned UMNO leaders in the name of party loyalty, namely former three-term Rembau MP and ex-health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and warlords Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Tan Sri Annuar Musa (the latter two have since jointed PAS).
Interestingly though, Zahid who is also the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) broke his deafening silence yesterday (Aug 17) by – to cite Malaysiakini – nudging both his youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP Youth to quit fighting.
IS UMNO deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan’s recent remark of “don’t scapegoat” firebrand UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh over the Jalur Gemilang row – but to enforce law on all – his personal opinion or that of the party?
Not only that this matter should best be addressed by party president and disciplinarian Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, statement of the Rembau MP and Foreign Minister has only emboldened Akmal whose notoriety has strained the party’s ties with DAP probably to the point of beyond repair.
After all, Zahid who has been tight-lipped on the matter had no qualms axing its former supreme council member and information chief Isham Jalil from the party in December 2023 purportedly for being critical over the party’s cooperation with DAP since the outcome of the six state elections in August 2023.
Beyond that, Zahid has also been instrumental in sacking a few renowned UMNO leaders in the name of party loyalty, namely former three-term Rembau MP and ex-health minister Khairy Jamaluddin and warlords Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Tan Sri Annuar Musa (the latter two have since jointed PAS).
Interestingly though, Zahid who is also the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) broke his deafening silence yesterday (Aug 17) by – to cite Malaysiakini – nudging both his youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh and DAP Youth to quit fighting.
UMNO indecisive over Akmal?
Without mentioning names, the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman further stressed that the key message for both was not to let their actions harm ties within the coalition government.
“We have made a decision at the leadership level. Don’t for the sake of popularising an issue or wanting to become the most popular, in the end, ties between parties are jeopardised, especially at the grassroots level,” remarked Zahid presumably directed at Akmal.
As for the Penang DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chapter which has threatened to severe ties with Akmal while describing the Russia-trained medical doctor as a danger to national harmony, Zahid – again without mentioning names – warned that political decisions should not come at the expense of coalition unity.
“Because of one incident, we don’t want a political decision to be made that rocks the unity of the 18 parties that form the Madani government,” he advised.
In what is believed to be a veiled response to Zahid later, Akmal posted on social media that his love for religion, race and nation is priceless (see main image).
“If that’s what is considered and said in the end, I’ve nothing more to say. Thank you,” he penned on his Facebook page.
Given that vocal UMNO supreme council member Datuk Puad Zarkashi, too, had recently praised Akmal for his patriotism in defending the proper use of the Malaysian flag while a day later sternly warned that “messing with the Jalur Gemilang is tantamount to “stirring up a hornets’ nest”, Akmal has certainly caused a division within his own party.
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