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KUALA LUMPUR – It is unfair to put all the blame on Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for Barisan Nasional’s (BN) defeat in the 15th general election (GE15) last November, said the party’s supreme council member Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
He said after BN lost heavily in 2018, it was Zahid as BN chairman who led the party to bounce back and win seven by-elections and two state polls in Melaka and Johor.
“Yes, we were defeated in GE15, but when we won the seven by-elections and two state elections, he was the Umno president. So it is not right to say that we lost in GE15 all because of the party president.
“All decisions were also made by the political bureau and were later confirmed in the supreme council meeting. So, I disagree with those who say the defeat was entirely the president’s fault,” he told reporters here today.
The Perak menteri besar said that despite the party’s defeat, Umno is now part of the unity government and Zahid has been appointed as deputy prime minister.
“If a party election is to be held, how sure are we that the new Umno president will be appointed as deputy prime minister. If Zahid is not retained, we are doomed,” he said.
On the party election, he said so far the motion submitted by the delegates was for the top two positions, namely the president and deputy president, to not be contested and if this is approved today, the polls will see a contest for the vice-president posts and other positions.
“We have also decided in the state liaison meeting that Perak is 100% behind the current president, Zahid,” he said.
In addition, Saarani said he will defend his position as Umno Lenggong division chief in the upcoming party polls.
The Umno election for all party posts and at all levels must be done before May 19, six months after the conclusion of GE15. – Bernama, January 14, 2023