PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh has dropped a cryptic social media post, alluding to stepping aside from his current position.
“Perhaps the shortcomings are within me. Perhaps the time has come for me to take a step back (mengundur diri),” he wrote.
Dr Akmal won the party election for the post of Umno Youth chief in 2023.
In a Facebook post yesterday, he said that he had done his best to voice the concerns of the grassroots.
“Thank you for all your voices that care deeply about this struggle.
“I believe that if our intentions are sincere for the sake of religion, race and the nation, God willing, the time will come,” he said.
Umno Youth held a one-day special convention on Saturday to discuss the party’s direction within the unity government.
This had come about amid unhappiness with statements made by some DAP leaders.
Yesterday, Datuk Nurulhidayah Ahmad Zahid, the daughter of the Umno president, said in a statement that all parties, including DAP Youth, should not meddle in this situation.
“Akmal has his own siblings in Umno. His elder sister (Kak Long) cares about him,” said Nurulhidayah, who is fondly known as Kak Long.
DAP Youth, she said, are just “step-siblings”.
“If there’s a split, we won’t have anything to do with each other anymore. Akmal stays. Period,” she said.
Prior to this, Nurulhidayah had urged the Umno Youth leader to exercise caution in voicing dissent publicly, warning that portraying the party as being at a “stay or leave” crossroads could undermine leadership and weaken party unity.
She said on Dec 29 that the concerns expressed by Dr Akmal were understandable but Umno is a structured organisation, where decisions must follow legitimate party processes, not emotional pressure or immediate public mobilisation.
Following the special convention, Dr Akmal expressed his appreciation to Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his willingness to review several motions raised during the meeting.
In a statement on Tuesday, Dr Akmal said efforts towards Malay unity should begin with cooperation between Umno and PAS, which are the two largest Malay-based parties in the country.
“Secondly, reject any proposal to engineer a so-called ‘tebuk atap’ (backdoor) government.”
Dr Akmal, who is also Merlimau assemblyman, said the party could begin by examining an appropriate form of cooperation in the interest of Malay unity, describing this as the right time to initiate such efforts.
Yesterday, Subang Umno division chief Datuk Armand Azha Abu Hanifah urged all party members to remain calm amid the current political situation.
Meanwhile, PAS central committee member Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim conveyed words of encouragement to Dr Akmal in support of the efforts to strengthen Malay unity through Umno and PAS.
“Akmal, when we move forward, we progress. We cannot look back. Allah’s tests are great.
“Accept them with patience. God willing, we will succeed,” he said.
