Step down, Zahid, if you want UMNO ministers to resign - Pontian UMNO Youth

The UMNO president has been asked to step down if he insists on UMNO ministers resigning on the basis of party interests.

Pontian UMNO Youth Chief, Mohd Helmi Buang, said taking a step backward does not mean conceding, but what all leaders and members need to fight for is for the sake of the party and not the interests of certain individuals.

It is also interesting to note that the Pontian UMNO division’s deputy head is UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan. The division is headed by Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohamad.

Mohd Helmi said new faces should be given space and opportunities according to the times because UMNO is always relevant but today's leaders need to be aware of the time and when their time have run out to lead the party.

"Treating and curing is better than supporting and in the end the support brings down. Prioritise the party, rest assured that there are still many more UMNO fighters who will fight for this party.

"Many people, especially members of UMNO and the Malays still rely on the party that always fought for Islam, the Malays and the country in addition to safeguarding the interests of Malaysians of all races," he said in a statement yesterday.

Recently, Ahmad Zahid challenged an UMNO leader who has been dubbed a “pest” to resign as a minister during his winding up speech at the 2020 UMNO General Assembly last Sunday.

Following that, UMNO ministers held a meeting with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to seek advice on their positions in the Cabinet.

However, UMNO vice-president and Senior Minister (Security Cluster), Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, said the recent UMNO General Assembly did not make a motion for UMNO ministers to resign.

The situation created a new turmoil in UMNO when disagreements arose among its leaders, including the call for immediate party elections by Rembau Member of Parliament, Khairy Jamaluddin, to resolve the crisis.

In the meantime, Mohd Helmi said, the new generation is more and more, thinking and approach are changing, so this is a fact that all parties must accept with an open heart.

"Don't always look up to the sky, look downwards too. UMNO needs to rise with new and fresh leadership.