Learn from other parties that defend their leaders in tough times, says Puteri Umno chief

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno members should learn from other political parties that back their leaders when they are attacked by outsiders, says Puteri wing chief Datuk Zahida Zarik Khan.

Such parties would not demand that their leaders step down when they are besieged, unlike what some members in Umno are doing, she said.

“We need to find ways to support (our leaders), not bring them down,” she said in her policy speech at the Umno General Assembly 2022 here on Thursday (Jan 12).

Defending the leadership would maintain other people's respect for and trust in the party, she added.

She said when Umno leaders are attacked by others, the objective is to weaken the party, and changing them would not affect the situation.

“Our leaders becoming political targets has been (a common occurrence) since the time of former presidents Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“Now, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is facing the same thing and we should be defending him.

"Even if we change (the president) many times, (the person at the top) will still become a target,” she said.

Zahida said if Umno broke apart, it would not be able to solve issues faced by the rakyat.

“To those who are forming their own parties within Umno, stop it already.

“As a team, we should have discipline and those who behave treacherously should face action," she said.