'Zahid has the right to appoint state chairman, deputy'

PONTIAN – Umno President Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has the right to appoint the party’s state chairman and deputy chairman.

Umno Secretary-General Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said any change at the state level as called for by the grassroots, should be left to the discretion of the Umno President.

"It is only a suggestion, but the right to choose state Umno Chairman and Deputy Chairman is the power of the Umno President.

"Therefore, we leave it to the wisdom of the President to make any decision," he said at a press conference after he officiated a netball tournament at Taman Saujana Consensus Hall, here on Saturday.

Ahmad, also the Deputy Finance Minister and Pontian Member of Parliament said that for the state Umno Chairman and Deputy Chairman who have resigned, their positions had been replaced by other individuals by the party’s President.

"Selangor Umno Chairman, Tan Sri Noh Omar who resigned earlier had been replaced by Datuk Megat Zulkarnain Omardin.

"Similarly, the position of Kedah Umno Deputy Chairman which was vacated by Datuk Othman Aziz, is now filled by Datuk Suraya Yaacob.

"Apart from them, no state Umno Chairman and Deputy Chairman has resigned so far.

"It is not even an issue, because it is the right of the Umno President, as long as the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of any state want to continue in that position and the President retains them, they will remain," he said.

On Friday, Johor Umno Deputy Chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said Umno, at the state level needed to give way to a new leader to restore trust in the party as a measure to maintain its survival in the next general election.

This was because there were many rural areas that Umno lost in the last 15th General Election when it should not happen to rural areas that are the party's stronghold.