KUALA LUMPUR: Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi must take responsibility for BN's failure in the 15th General Election and resign.
Umno YOuth Exco member Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin said the people's dislike for the president have been translated into votes.
"From the beginning, I have voiced several issues internally including not naming parachute candidates, the court cases and the decision to change the BN candidates at the last minute.
"I have also been urging for Muafakat Nasional to be maintained because the Melaka and Johor state election were not the determinant factor of BN's strength in winning a general election, which is different from a state election," said Muqharabbin in a statement.
He said Umno needs to appreciate Pas because the party's resurgence after the defeat in the 14th General Election is because of the presence and cooperation of Pas in seven by-elections.
"However, we have denied Pas just because of several statements from a few of them. We forgot that some of us also hurt them."
Muqharabbin said BN lost because of its arrogance in wanting to go solo and not wanting to change and listen to the grassroots and the people, which is the real weakness.
"Therefore, it is appropriate for Zahid to step down and the party election to be held soon to give a new mandate for the Umno leadership to make rela changes," said Muqharabbin.
The sentiment is echoed by another Umno Youth Exco member Datuk Dr Najmil Faiz Mohamed Aris.
"From being the government, he (Zahid) insisted on having GE15 quickly and added to it a strategy that damaged BN's safe seats.
"The BN chairman has to accept the fact that the party's defeat proved that the people do not like him (Zahid) but those who are obsessed with the former prime minister could not accept such fact," said Najmil Faiz in a statement on his Facebook page.
He said BN's heavy defeat proved that Umno was sacrificed because of the action of leaders who held the party hostage.
"We are disappointed and sad because all the good that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob did as the prime minister did not mean anything to the people. The defeat proved that the people did not agree with the action of greedy and egotistical leaders," said Najmil Faiz.