Despite UMNO Youth Chief Datuk Dr. Akmal Saleh’s insistence that the party is not dominated by "yes-men," skepticism abounds among political observers and even some within UMNO's ranks. Akmal’s claims, made during a recent event in Pasir Mas, aim to paint a picture of inclusivity within the party, yet they come at a time when UMNO is grappling with its relevance and a crisis of leadership credibility.
Akmal boldly stated that his freedom to voice opinions contrary to UMNO President Dato' Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s positions is proof that dissent is tolerated. “Although I hold certain views that contradict the party president’s, he has never once asked me to stop airing my views,” Akmal said. However, this assertion rings hollow for many critics who argue that UMNO's long-standing culture rewards loyalty over merit and punishes those who challenge the status quo.
Khairy Jamaluddin’s sacking last year is a prime example. Despite his rebellious image as a progressive leader, Khairy was expelled for alleged disciplinary breaches during the 15th General Election, a move widely seen as an attempt to silence dissent.
Similarly, former vice-president Dato' Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and information chief Shahril Hamdan were slapped with six-year suspensions without clear reasons being provided. Datuk Puad Zarkashi, however, claimed that they failed to comply with party consensus, leading to their ouster from UMNO. These cases highlight a party leadership that is intolerant of disloyalty, betrayal, disciplinary breaches, and independent voices.
Yet, it now extends conditional olive branches for their return, with political observers suggesting that Zahid views them as no longer posing a threat to him, as the party consolidates its relevance in the government by collaborating with Pakatan Harapan (PH). The lingering question is whether they accept UMNO’s partnership with PH and if their return to the party will stabilize it and bolster the unity government led by Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
UMNO President Zahid has recently stated that sacked members can rejoin if they appeal, a requirement critics say reeks of subservience. Khairy, for one, has made it clear he will not return just to be a "yes-man," emphasizing the need for genuine reform within the party. Hishammuddin has also refused to appeal, calling into question the transparency and fairness of the disciplinary actions taken against him.
Kapar UMNO Youth Chief Afifi Aris’s suggestion that Akmal should act as a “bridge” to bring back expelled leaders like Khairy, Hishammuddin, and Shahril further highlights the growing discontent within the party. While Afifi advocates for Malay unity and ending internal polemics, his remarks reflect an underlying acknowledgment of UMNO’s fractured state.
Akmal’s rhetoric fails to address the deeper issues plaguing UMNO: a leadership accused of consolidating power, a loss of public trust, and an inability to connect with the grassroots. His claims that UMNO embraces differing opinions seem more like a public relations exercise than a reflection of reality.
As UMNO struggles to rebuild, questions remain about whether its leadership can genuinely accommodate reformist ideas or if it will continue to prioritize blind loyalty to maintain power.
For now, Akmal’s assertions seem like little more than damage control for a party increasingly out of step with the aspirations of its members and the Malaysian public.
By: Kpost
Information Source:
Fmt , Fmt , Malaysianinsight , Fmt , Malaymail , Nst , Fmt
Kpost is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact Newswav.