KUALA LUMPUR: Following the resignation announced by Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday, former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he fully accepted the trust given to him with a sense of responsibility.
Najib who stepped down from his role as Umno president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman in a surprise announcement at Menara Dato' Onn here yesterday , informed that Hishammuddin would assume the role of Umno deputy president and BN deputy chairman.
Hishammuddin who is also Umno vice president wrote on his Facebook page late last night that he would do the best he can to help Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in their mission to restore the confidence of party members as well the rakyat in Umno.
"Thank you DS Najib Razak for all that you have done throughout your leadership.
"This fight will continue for the sake of party and country. May Allah SWT bless us all," Hishammuddin said.
It was also announced yesterday that with Najib's resignation, Umno's political bureau has agreed that Ahmad Zahid will assume the role of party president.
On his resignation, Najib said the decision was made based on the party's principle that if the party failed or lost in the general election, its president has to abide by the moral obligation.
"We took this into consideration, and BN and Umno lost in the election, therefore I, as the president of Umno and Barisan Nasional, will resign from my post immediately," Najib said.
BN suffered a defeat in the recently concluded 14th General Election (GE14), with Pakatan Harapan (PH) securing a simple majority to form the Federal Government.