Being outspoken does not mean disagreeing with president – Umno Youth

KUALA LUMPUR - Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh denies the party wing disagreeing with president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s direction following his outspoken attitude on some issues especially related to DAP.

He said his outspokenness in demanding an apology towards Umno was the voice of the grassroots and it was his responsibility to voice it.

“There’s no friction between the Youth and the president (Zahid).

“Youth is not against the president (but) we only bring the voice of the grassroots, we still respect the presidential institution.

“There are no issues of boycotting (the president) and such,” he said in a press conference at the 2023 Umno General Assembly at the World Trade Centre here on Saturday.

He said this when asked to comment on the rumours of a portion of Umno Youth showing their dissatisfaction openly after they remained seated when Zahid arrived at the Youth General Assembly on Friday.

Dr Akmal firmly dismissed the allegations and asked the party who raised the matter to watch the video of the president arriving in the hall again.

“It’s not true. When the president arrived, we stood up and clapped for the president. I myself was there to celebrate his presence with us,” he said.

On the topic of the apology claims from DAP, he said it could ease the political situation now, especially among Umno supporters facing the State Elections soon.

“When we asked DAP to apologise, it’s not that we didn’t move on, we continued to operate as per usual, but this is the voice of the grassroots that must be explained as a leader.

“Whether DAP wanted to apologise or not it is up to them to think of what’s good or bad. We want to face it (state elections) together. Surely both parties must feel at ease and could cooperate,” he said.