Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh delivered his speech at the special convention on Hala Tuju Umno Dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan at World Trade Centre KL on January 03.- AZMAN GHANI/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth will submit a proposal for the party to leave the Madani government and partner with PAS.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh said this during a special convention attended by 1,500 members on Saturday (Jan 3).
He said this was because lines had been crossed with insults to the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty) and Umno could no longer remain patient.
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"This proposal will be brought to the supreme council and Umno general assembly to be passed as a resolution," he said.
"This is not the voice of Akmal alone but the voice of the grassroots.
"Our dignity must be upheld – there is no point having power without dignity. The president must listen to the voices of the grassroots. The ultimate power is the Umno general assembly," he said.
Akmal said they had a responsibility to defend the party from rude behaviour, adding that they would be branded as cowards they were to stay quiet.
"The time has come for Malays to unite. I call for this to begin with Umno and PAS – the two biggest Malay parties – to come together. The benefit is for race and religion, not the parties.
"Malays are the majority of the country, but the power of the country is fractured. When we are fractured, it is at the grassroots which will lose," he said.
The Umno General Assembly will be held on Jan 14.
In a press conference later, Akmal said Umno leaving the government would not destablise the government as it would stil have the numbers.
"We have only 26 seats now (including Kinabatangan held by the late Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, by-election to be held on Jan 24) and even if we leave to be in the Opposition, the government can continue as is and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will remain as Prime Minister.
"I am against anyone bringing down the government as the priority remains the stability of the country," he said.
