KUALA LUMPUR: Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan resigned today and asked Umno president and Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to follow suit,
The Umno leader's call came after Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi also call on Zahid to resign afther BN's poor showing in the 15th General Election yesterday.
"Without reducing our respect for him as a person, I am of the view that the No. 1 leader, Umno president and BN chairman must set an example and take responsibility for this defeat (by) stepping down with dignity.
"Let the leadership and other people lead discussions (in relation to) the next big decisions for the party.
"In the spirit of 'collective responsibility', I will also resign as the head of information for Umno Malaysia. I appreciate the opportunity I have been given and will never forget it.
"It is just that this is a much bigger issue. Just like many others, I am loyal to Umno. The party's struggle is not over. This is not the end," he said in a Facebook post.
Shahril who lost the Alor Gajah seat yesterday said the concept of collective responsibility should be applied when there was a failure.
"It is true Umno must consider the next step since no party received the 112 (majority) in GE15.
"It is true that this is a big decision and must be made by the supreme council, not any one person or group only.
"But, before the party can discuss anything, that decision (to resign) must be done first."
Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Dr Fathul Bari Mat Jahya also joined the chorus calling for Zahid's resignation and posted a photo bearing the hashtag #ResetUmno on his Facebook page.
In a short post, Fathul Bari wrote: "Reflect and stand up to make changes."
Yesterday, the Election Commission announced BN scored only 30 seats in the Dewan Rakyat, a devastating defeat to the coalition which had expected to win big in GE15.
In the last general election, BN was unseated from the federal government for the first time in the country's history when it lost to Pakatan Harapan.