Do not allow 'ostrich culture' among UMNO leaders - Ahmad Zahid

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has reminded UMNO division and branch leaders to do away with the 'ostrich culture'.

In other words, the UMNO vice-president said, leaders should not pass on the burden to others. When there was rioting, when people attacked, Ahmad Zahid said the ostrich hid its head.

"If you want to be a bird, be a real bird, if you want to be a camel, be a real camel, don't hide your body, don't hide your head if there is a problem. (However), we hide our head when enemies converge upon us.

"We often forget what we have received but we hope for something new because we are never satisfied with what we get," he said in his speech at the 2015 Pasir Salak UMNO division delegates meeting, here today.

Also present at the meeting was Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, who is also agriculture and agro-based deputy minister.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also home minister, said the party would meet with failure if the 'ostrich culture' was prevalent among UMNO leaders.

"We look at how we had lost in three states, namely, in Perak, Kelantan and Terengganu. In Kelantan, UMNO people themselves who did not like the then-menteri besar, the late Datuk Mohamed Yaacob, wanted to teach him (a lesson), wanted to reduce the votes...in the end, Kelantan, after more than 22 years now, cannot be retaken.

"...(UMNO members) in Terengganu, who were unhappy with the then-menteri besar Tan Sri Wan Mokhtar, (also) wanted to teach him a lesson...luckily, we got Terengganu back. Datuk Tajol Rosli also experienced the same problem in Perak.

"If it was not for (Prime Minister) Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak) who was UMNO Liaison chief, and me, who was Perak UMNO deputy chairman at that time, I think until today, other people would still be taking care (of the state)," he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid urged the delegates to continue empowering unity as the opposition was currently, trying to break up UMNO from within.

"Malay disunity (can come about) not because they are attacked from outside but due to infighting, differences in opinion and dissatisfaction.

"Fostering the culture of hatred is the easiest way to disunite. We are weak because of disunity at the grassroots," he said.

In the meantime, Ahmad Zahid, who is also Bagan Datoh MP, announced an allocation of RM400 million to build a bridge connecting Sungai Dulang, Bagan Datoh to Hujung Rintis in Pasir Salak.