PN’s Shahidan offers moral support to Umno Youth Chief amid internal friction

SHAH ALAM – Perlis Perikatan Nasional (PN) Chairman Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has offered moral support to Umno Youth Chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, urging him to remain resolute and not "look back" while navigating current political challenges.

Shahidan, who is also the Perlis Pas Deputy Commissioner III, stated that every political struggle inevitably faces significant hurdles that must be met with patience.

“Akmal, when we move forward, we progress. We cannot look back.

“Allah’s tests are great. Accept them with patience. God willing, we will win,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

The gesture follows a series of bold moves by Akmal, who recently presented two major proposals at the Umno Youth Special Convention:

For Umno to resume cooperation with Pas.

For the party to withdraw from the Unity Government to serve as the Opposition.

On Tuesday, Umno President Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi dismissed the possibility of a shift in the party's current alliances.

He stated that Umno does not wish to repeat past mistakes by forming pacts with Opposition parties at this time.

Zahid, who also serves as Deputy Prime Minister, emphasised that any future decisions would be meticulously reviewed to ensure Umno does not "get bitten by the same snake twice from the same hole."

On Wednesday, a fresh social media post by Dr Akmal sparked further speculation.

The Merlimau State Assemblyman hinted that it might be time for him to step down, leading many to wonder if the internal friction within Umno has reached a breaking point.