KUALA LUMPUR – Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has hit back at a suspended party figure who rejected suggestions of rejoining or helping the “lost” party.
In a Facebook post today, Akmal slammed Rembia assemblyman Datuk Muhammad Jailani Khamis after the latter accused the Barisan Nasional (BN) linchpin of having strayed from its agenda defending the Malay Bumiputera community.
Jailani also said contributing to Umno would be akin to “helping a trapped dog” as the party now prioritises its political survivability and gains over its original goal of protecting the rights of Malay Bumiputera.
In response to Jailani’s criticisms, Akmal said: “Is it worse to be a dog that bites the hand of its owners, or be a political frog that jumps to protect his own interests?””
“To friends in other political parties, our advice is to watch out for people like this. But if you insist (on accepting Jailani as a party member), you’re welcome to do so (as) we don’t want him,” added Akmal, who is also Merlimau assemblyman.
Jailani, who is Melaka Muafakat Nasional chairman, was previously suspended from Umno for six years after he campaigned for rival Perikatan Nasional (PN) during the Simpang Jeram by-election last August.
Prior to joining Umno in 2021, Jailani won the Rembia state seat under a PKR ticket during the 2018 general election.
In March 2020, Jailani was one of the four Pakatan Harapan (PH) representatives who supported PN’s motion of no confidence against then-Melaka chief minister Adly Zahari, leading to the collapse of the PH state administration.
Jailani had then gone on to defend his state seat as an Umno candidate during the Melaka state election in 2021.
Last week, Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias said the party is willing to accept back leaders and members who were previously removed during the cleansing process carried out by the party following the 15th general election.
He was quoted as saying that a second chance will be given to those who remain loyal and still believe in the struggles championed by Umno, despite their party memberships being revoked or suspended. – May 30, 2024