KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who referred to himself as "Ayahanda" (father), moved to ease tensions with Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh, describing him as a “mischievous” child but making clear that the party leadership would continue to stand by him.
In his closing speech at the Umno general assembly 2025 on Saturday (Jan 17), Ahmad Zahid called Dr Muhamad Akmal a good child who was sometimes "mischievous".
"Akmal is a good child,” Zahid implied, “though sometimes naughty," drawing laughter from the floor.
"When Akmal fights, ayahanda never controlled or stopped you right?," said Ahmad Zahid.
Zahid also moved to clarify what he described as a misunderstanding surrounding Akmal's actions, saying that the youth wing’s concerns stem from genuine grassroots sentiment rather than defiance.
"Did ayahanda ever punish you? I am a good father, but no matter how mischievous you are sometimes, I still care for you," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said that he was once the Umno Youth chief and understood his situation.
"Akmal is lucky that you were not thrown into the ISA like me," he said, drawing more laughter from the party delegates.
"Don’t slip on a banana peel like I did,” Zahid said in a light-hearted remark, before calling on the audience to give Dr Muhamad Akmal a round of applause.
On Jan 15, Dr Muhamad Akmal, who is Umno Youth chief, said he had resigned from his post as a Melaka executive council member.
