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By Mihar Dias Copyright (C) August 2023
In the realm of leadership, the ability to recognize when one's influence has waned is crucial. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno's party president, finds himself at a crossroads. It's evident that his tenure has been marked by a string of electoral defeats, prompting the call for him to step down from his position. The time for him to heed this call and relinquish his leadership is long overdue.
The 15th General Election was touted as the "mother of all elections," but it culminated in a resounding loss for Zahid and his party.
This was an undeniable verdict from the electorate, a stark reminder that his leadership failed to resonate with the people. More recently, the state elections further underscored Zahid's leadership inadequacies. Despite attempts to assert dominance by removing those who challenged him, the outcome was a resounding defeat.
In the face of these repeated failures, an honourable course of action would be for Zahid to step aside and allow more competent members to assume the reins of leadership. As the saying goes, "Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence."
It's clear that this principle is not upheld.
The parallels drawn between Zahid's current situation and the perils of incompetent leadership are striking. Vince Molinaro aptly describes leaders who persist despite their inability to make sound decisions or lead effectively. The advice from Molinaro is unequivocal: Such leaders should gracefully exit the stage.
The echoes of this sentiment reverberate through the party's ranks and beyond, with figures like Idris Jusoh, Wan Agyl Wan Hassan, Puad Zarkashi and head of Wanita Umno Wilayah Persekutuan demanding accountability.
The necessity for accountability and responsibility within the party leadership can not be overstated. The plea for Zahid's resignation is not merely a call for change; it's a plea for redemption. The party's relevance has suffered due to his leadership missteps, as demonstrated by the loss in state elections. Even from within Umno's own ranks, the demand for change grows louder.
Muhyiddin Yassin of Perikatan Nasional seizes upon these election results to advocate for the departure of both Zahid and other leaders. He points out that the significance of the defeat can not be ignored and that the party has been reduced to a shadow of its former self. The statistics speak volumes: 82 per cent of the contested seats were lost.
The path forward is clear, and the course of action should be simple for Zahid Hamidi. An honourable exit would not only pave the way for renewed leadership and a chance for the party's revival, but it would also demonstrate a respect for the principles of accountability and responsibility.
A leader who genuinely cares for the well-being of the party and its constituents would acknowledge the realities of the situation and gracefully step aside.
The time for change is now, and the call for Zahid to do the right thing—to resign—is echoing ever louder.
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