JOHOR BAHRU - The call for Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down from his position as Umno President will not serve as a solution, particularly concerning the support of Malays towards Umno, according to Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi.
Mohd Puad stressed that it is essential to cease the act of blaming and instead work collaboratively and responsibly to address the challenges confronting the party.
"Let's avoid pointing fingers. It's a shared responsibility.
"Urging Zahid to resign won't provide a resolution. Every individual is accountable," he shared in a Facebook post today.
The Johor State Legislative Assembly Speaker further expressed that Umno representatives within the Unity Government cabinet must earnestly regain the trust of the Malay community by effectively promoting the Malay agenda.
"Umno needs to reestablish its connection with Malay support. The Umno ministers need to be committed advocates of the Malay and people's interests.
"The capability to accomplish this lies in their hands.
"Hence, it is imperative for Umno to continue its presence within the Unity Government.
"The collaboration between Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) must be fortified.
"Ahmad Zahid is well-equipped for this mission. There's no necessity for him to resign. Let's not overreact," he said.
The aftermath of the state elections across six states witnessed BN registering its most severe defeat in history, securing only 19 out of the 108 State Legislative Assembly seats that were contested.
Within Selangor, BN managed to secure merely four seats, while Negeri Sembilan saw 13, and a single seat each in Pulau Pinang and Kelantan. No seats were captured in Kedah and Terengganu.
In the meantime, Mohd Puad also slammed Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin for urging Zahid to step down.
"Muhyiddin's call for Zahid to resign showcases an air of arrogance.
"When PN experienced significant losses in Melaka and Johor, he did not take the same step.
"Muhyiddin persists as the President of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), despite the ongoing legal matters," he added.