KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh likened internal criticism within the party to a child’s defiance born out of love, saying those who speak out most boldly are often the ones who care most deeply about Umno’s future.
Speaking at the Umno General Assembly (PAU) 2025, Dr Muhamad Akmal said the party must acknowledge that it remains trapped in a “denial syndrome” after failing to confront its repeated electoral defeats and the deeper questions surrounding its direction.
“From the past until now, Umno has suffered from a denial syndrome. When we lose, we still say it’s okay.
“We lost twice and we said it didn’t matter, as long as today Umno is part of the government,” he said while winding up his speech as Umno Youth chief at the World Trade Centre (WTC) on Saturday.
Dr Akmal warned that such thinking risks reducing the party to a mere fragment of its former self if members continue to avoid honest self-reflection.
“Do we want to become just fragments? Today, we must search our hearts and question our faith,” he said.
He stressed that the Umno General Assembly should serve as the party’s highest platform for voicing the concerns and demands of the rakyat, rather than avoiding uncomfortable truths.
According to him, it is time for Umno members at all levels to speak out openly, even if their views may be difficult for the leadership to hear.
He clarified that internal criticism should not be seen as defiance against the party president, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, but as a reflection of grassroots sentiment.
“Our approach needs to be different. I appeal because the future of this party is in our hands.
“If we lose, it is the President who will be blamed, not me,” he added.
Addressing claims that he is not aligned with the party leadership, Dr Akmal dismissed such accusations, reiterating that his criticism stems from loyalty rather than rebellion.
“Some say I am not in line with the President, but in truth, the ‘naughtiest’ child is often the one who loves his father the most,” he said.