Facing calls for resignation, Zahid acknowledges pressure to step down

KUALA LUMPUR - Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has admitted full responsibility for the party's poor performance in the recent state elections, but he has refused to step down.

Zahid said that he will work with the party leadership to improve Umno's fortunes, and that he will not be making any statements about his future as president.

"I realise that there have been calls for me to step down, but I will not be making any statements about that at this time. What I can promise is that I will work with the party leadership to improve our performance and regain the public's confidence," he said.

Zahid said that Umno has not always been successful in elections, and that he is not the first Umno president to face calls to step down after a poor performance.

"It has happened before, including to Pak Lah (Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) and also to Datuk Seri Najib Razak. But we have always come back stronger," he said.

Zahid said that Umno will need to change its approach and strategy in order to win back the support of voters.

"We will need to be more responsive to the needs of the people, and we will need to offer them a better alternative to the government," he said.

Umno won only 19 of the 108 seats contested in the recent state elections, losing all seats in Terengganu and Kedah.

The party did, however, maintain a good track record in Negeri Sembilan, winning 14 seats. - AWANI