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UMNO Wanita Exco, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid reprimanded the party's youth chief, Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, following his ultimatum regarding Umno's future direction.
This follows the Merlimau State Assemblyman's (ADUN) insistence that the party reassess its position in the Unity government and calls for Muafakat Nasional (MN) to be revived.
The daughter of Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said while she understood grassroots concerns and the youth wing's role in providing checks and balances, the "stay or leave" narrative carried serious implications.
"The statement by this youth leader was born from love and anxiety, that cannot be denied. In politics, the anxiety of the grassroots is a reality, and the youth indeed play a role as a voice of checks and balances. From that point of view, his intentions are understandable.
"However, from the perspective of leadership principles and organizational discipline, this statement carries several implications that need to be considered carefully. First, the narrative of 'remain or leave, we decide' is a very serious statement.
"It is not just raising policy discussions, but signaling as if the party's strategic decisions can be determined through emotional pressure and immediate mobilization, not through the party's legitimate structure and process," she said in a post on her social media.
Muhamad Akmal on Sunday was reported to have announced that UMNO Youth would be organizing a Special Convention this Saturday.
He invited the leadership of the party's wing to participate and determine whether Umno should remain or leave the Unity government.
Meanwhile, Nurulhidayah, in the same post, also stressed that in a large organization like Umno, the party's direction is not determined by one wing, let alone through public pressure that can be interpreted as internal political threats.
She said that when the issue of the party's direction is brought directly to the public sphere with an ultimatum tone, it opens up the perception that Umno is being divided from within and can not only weaken the president and top leadership but also give free ammunition to opponents and political observers.
"Young leaders need to understand one important thing, the courage to speak out must be accompanied by the wisdom to maintain the party's dignity," he said.
She added that the upcoming convention to discuss is appropriate, but its message must aim to strengthen the party, not to put pressure.
"Discuss with arguments, not emotions. With manners, not popularity. Umno does not belong to one generation, not to one wing and not to the most vocal individual.
"Umno is a mandate of a long struggle, which requires patience, wisdom and loyalty to the structure, even if we do not agree with all the decisions," he said.
She insisted that speaking out is the right of all parties but giving the choice of 'remaining or leaving' openly is not the culture of Umno leadership. – December 29, 2025
