Nazri criticises Zahid for 'lack of leadership', labels UMNO ministers 'cowards'

KUALA LUMPUR: UMNO is now seen as a 'paper tiger' after 'roaring' at the 2020 UMNO General Assembly last weekend, said Padang Rengas Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

He said this happened due to the weakness of the leadership of its president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in ensuring that all ministers and deputy ministers from UMNO resign from the Cabinet.

Nazri stressed the refusal of all UMNO MPs to resign from the Cabinet, exposed Zahid as someone who "lacks leadership qualities" in leading the party.

"If he has the nature of a leader, UMNO MPs who are in the Cabinet do not have to wait long to resign, they can resign immediately once the general assembly is over.

“But that didn’t happen and this shows the president doesn’t have the leadership to direct them to do so.

"Is Zahid worried that the ministers from UMNO do not want to follow his instructions?" he told Astro AWANI.

Nazri, however, still labelled the ministers from UMNO who refused to resign as 'cowards'.

He even claimed that they were trying to get a lifeline from the Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to remain in the Cabinet when the Cabinet was not needed to govern the country in an emergency.

Earlier today, Muhyiddin announced that all UMNO ministers would remain in the Cabinet after he advised them to do so in the interest of the people and the country.

Commenting further on Zahid's leadership, Nazri stressed that the Member of Parliament for Bagan Datuk needs to understand the principles of moral accountability and "do the right thing".

“He may be elected through democracy but there is also moral accountability. If you are charged in court, you must do what is best for the party,” he added.

Commenting on Rembau Member of Parliament Khairy Jamaluddin's suggestion for UMNO to hold party elections this year to resolve the party's internal crisis, Nazri explained that he agreed that the elections be held according to the party's calendar.

“It means that the previous election should complete (a term of) three years, we have to respect the rules that have been set.

"If the election is to be expedited, I do not agree, but if it is held in November, after three years, I agree," he said.

Astro AWANI previously reported that UMNO is expected to postpone the party election scheduled to be held this year.

The report, quoting a source, said the postponement was proposed in preparation for the general election which is expected to be held after the end of the emergency period on August 1.

The source explained that the motion to postpone the 2021 UMNO Election was tabled in the UMNO Supreme Working Council (MKT) meeting in Janda Baik, Pahang on February 19.

According to the UMNO Constitution, the MKT has the power to postpone the election for up to 18 months from the date a new election should be held.

Earlier, several UMNO leaders, including the president, deputy president and UMNO secretary-general, insisted that elections would be held this year.