Akmal urges expelled leaders to set aside ego and rejoin party
He said president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is open to appeals from them and offered to facilitate their return, naming Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin, and Shahril Hamdan.
'We need them (the suspended or expelled former leaders). As I said in my speech earlier, UMNO belongs to everyone and must be reunited. But with one condition: each of them must put their ego aside, love the party, and, God willing, UMNO will become stronger,' he said.
Akmal emphasised UMNO is a family, and their past contributions cannot be forgotten.
'UMNO is a family for everyone. So, those who have faced disciplinary actions have contributions we cannot forget.
'That's why I said what is most important is UMNO's unity, and of course, this unity cannot happen from only one side,' he told reporters after officiating the Seremban UMNO Youth Division Conference on Friday (July 4).
Several UMNO leaders have asked Hishammuddin to write an apology letter to the party leadership if he wishes to return.
However, Hishammuddin said he did nothing wrong and sees no reason to apologise. He added that he never requested to return or have his suspension lifted; it was the Sembrong branch that proposed UMNO should bring him back.
The conflict also attracted comments from Wanita UMNO's leader, Nurulhidayah Zahid, who then said, 'When it comes to filing an appeal, it's not kowtowing but a sign of responsibility to those who had used the platform to boost their names and struggles.' — July 5, 2025
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
17 minutes ago
- The Star
Umno confirms alliance commitment ahead of GE16
LUMUT: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has confirmed that Umno will not contest solo in the 16th General Election. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Umno president, stressed the party's ongoing commitment to Barisan Nasional. He also dismissed claims that the party's recent losses in several by-elections were due to its alliance with component parties within Barisan and Pakatan Harapan (PH). 'Umno and Barisan have never contested on their own. I promise and declare that we will contest under the Barisan flag in the upcoming general election," he said, adding that it would not sideline its partners: MIC, MCA, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah and Pakatan. 'This idea of going solo is being voiced not just in Kedah, but also yesterday in Johor, I heard the same sentiment,' he said when officiating the Lumut Division Umno Representative Meeting at Dewan Merdeka, Majlis Perbandaran Manjung on Sunday (July 6). Zahid added that while Barisan may contest under its banner, it would do so with the support of allies in Pakatan and other component parties. 'They have helped us by reaching out and engaging Chinese voters in support of the BN candidate (for the Mahkota state seat), and we won by a margin of over 20,000... thanks to the support from our friends in other parties,' he said. He emphasised that the setbacks in the last general election serve as a lesson in political strategy, which Umno and Barisan are now adjusting to achieve greater success in the upcoming elections.
New Straits Times
23 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
BN eyes comeback in Lumut with Zambry as potential candidate
MANJUNG: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has hinted at naming Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir as the Lumut parliamentary seat candidate in the next general election. The Barisan Nasional chairman is confident that the party will reclaim the Lumut parliamentary seat, as well as the Pangkor and Pasir Panjang state seats. "We will take them back. This is not rhetoric, this is a fact. Zambry, don't be disheartened by the 363-vote loss. "Don't forget, I won by only 348 votes. I have already forgiven the voters in Bagan Datuk. Forgive the voters in Lumut as well. "If he becomes a minister again, it won't be as 'the honourable senator' but, God willing, as 'the honourable Datuk Seri Diraja', representing Barisan Nasional as a member of parliament," he said. In the last general election, Zambry, who is BN secretary-general, lost the Lumut parliamentary seat to Perikatan Nasional candidate Commander (Rtd) Nordin Ahmad Ismail by just 363 votes. Zahid said four prerequisites must be met in order to reclaim the Lumut parliamentary seat. "It comes with conditions. The Lumut Umno division and our friends in Lumut must be united. "We must work together to strengthen unity among ourselves. Don't be divided, don't differ in opinion. "No more of the old culture — backstabbing, blaming top leaders for everything. We point (one) finger, but four fingers point back at us. "I remind all of us, myself included, enough is enough," he said at the Umno Lumut division meeting in Dewan Merdeka here today. Also present were Perak Umno chief and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and Zambry, who is Lumut Umno division chief. The second prerequisite, said Zahid, is to show respect and care for partners in BN and in Pakatan Harapan. "Yes, we acknowledge that MCA and MIC are currently being tested. The Chinese and Indian communities may not be with MCA and MIC right now. "If they are, it's only a small number. But they are going through a tough time. In the past, they helped us when we were struggling," he said. For the third prerequisite, Zahid reminded delegates to let go of outdated mindsets and accept current political realities. "Enough with our old ways. What is our culture? We think that just because we are part of the government, we must push and demand for this and that. "Just as we were once dominant for 62 years, now we are only part of the government. Yes, we can make requests, we can push but we have limitations. "Within those limitations, we must remember that the people are watching us. They are evaluating us, observing whether we can still be trusted," he said. He added that the final prerequisite was to dominate social media and engage with voters more strategically. "Social media is the new battleground. Umno Youth and Puteri must lead the digital narrative. Reaching voters through relevant, respectful, and convincing digital content is critical to rebuilding public trust.
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Zahid: Umno will not contest GE16 alone
MANJUNG: Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today made it clear that the party will not contest the 16th General Election (GE16) on its own. The Barisan Nasional chairman said the party continues to value both its historical partners in BN, including MCA, MIC, and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), as well as its newer allies in Pakatan Harapan. "Don't boast about wanting to contest solo. In the past, we have gone it alone. The result in Perak was just nine seats. At the national level, only 30 parliamentary seats. "So what's wrong if, in GE16, we unite our friends in Barisan Nasional with those in Pakatan Harapan? "In Lumut, if it is destined that the candidate chosen is based on a combination of votes from PH and BN, based on logic and political calculations, we could secure around 61,000 votes," he said. Zahid, who is deputy prime minister, said this during his opening speech at the Umno Lumut Division meeting at Dewan Merdeka here today. Also present were Perak Umno chief and Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad, and Lumut Umno division chief Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir. Zahid said the recent Ayer Kuning by-election demonstrated that the alliance between BN and PH must be maintained in the next general election. "We must also embrace and support the seats that belong to our partners. Take Ayer Kuning as an example. "In the previous election, we lost all the Chinese-majority polling districts. But in the recent by-election, we won all the Chinese-majority polling districts except one. "This is not just about sincerity or honesty; it's about a political strategy crafted by Umno and the BN leadership. God willing, if we remain sincere and honest with our allies, it will yield excellent results. "Did we not contest solo? Yes, we did but with the support of our friends from other parties. God willing, even as we contest under our own banner, we will continue to stand alongside our allies," he said. Zahid also said that Umno will retain the dacing (scales) symbol for the upcoming general election, but this does not mean the party is sidelining its allies. "What does this mean? Does it mean we want to sideline our friends from MCA, MIC, and PBRS? Does it mean we want to reject our friends in PH whether PKR, DAP, or Amanah? "Umno has never abandoned its friends. Even with new allies, we have never discarded our long-time partners," he said.
