Whenever Ismail Sabri was mentioned in Zahid’s speech, Umno delegates were heard booing loudly.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi delivered a special briefing today to address the concerns of party delegates over the recent jailing of Najib Abdul Razak, in the presence of the former premier’s family members.
At the beginning of his speech, Zahid choked up and was holding back tears as he thanked Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor and his children for attending the briefing today.
Expressing his sorrow, Zahid said there are now fewer and fewer loyal friends and leaders.
“The pain is unimaginable when we think about how, because of political revenge, someone who has contributed a lot, touched every soul and came up with all sorts of approaches so that the people under his leadership can prosper, is now separated from his family and the people who will miss him,” Zahid said to the thousands of Umno delegates at the World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.
Zahid also did not appear to mount pressure on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to step down in his speech, despite the previous speculation.
However, whenever Ismail Sabri was mentioned in Zahid’s speech, whether by name or by his vice-president position in the party, Umno delegates were heard booing loudly.
Ismail Sabri was not in attendance at this event. It is understood he did not show up after attending a programme in Pahang earlier today.
Malaysiakini had previously reported that a source said there might be a possibility that hardcore supporters of Najib may try to use this gathering to pin the blame on Ismail Sabri over the former prime minister’s jailing.
The prime minister is expected to be present at tonight’s Umno supreme council meeting at 8pm.
He is one of the Umno vice presidents.
Meanwhile, chants of “bubar” (dissolve) filled the hall as Umno continues to push for national polls to be held as soon as possible.
Zahid said this was not just his call but that of the supreme council and the decision of the general assembly.
“The supreme council has provided the prime minister with a guideline that the general election should be held when Malaysia achieved herd immunity.
“We have already achieved this. So, when (should polls be called)?” he asked.
The floor then started to shout “bubar” (dissolve) repeatedly.
Zahid said he will bring the party’s call for Parliament to be dissolved at the supreme council meeting tonight.
The current Parliament term ends in July next year.