KUALA LUMPUR: More Umno leaders have joined the growing calls for Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down as party president following Barisan Nasional's dismal performance in the 15th General Election (GE15).
Datuk Halimah Mohamed Sadique said Zahid should be big hearted and take responsibility for the outcome of the election.
By stepping down, she said, it would allow Umno to implement major changes and improve the reputation of the party.
"Umno could no longer afford to assume the liability of a person who placed his interest above the party.
"Have a big heart and be responsible for what has happened. We place the interest of the party as a priority similar to that of Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2018 when we lost the last general election," the former Kota Tinggi member of parliament said in a posting on his Facebook page today.
Halimah said she agreed with Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi who had earlier made similar calls.
Onn Hafiz, in a separate social media posting, had said efforts to rehabilitate and improve the party needed to start now, failing which Umno would not be able to win a single seat in the future.
Other party leaders who made similar calls for Zahid to step down included Shahril Hamdan, who also announced his resignation as the party's information chief.
"Let the leadership and other people lead the discussions (in relation to) to the next big decisions for the party," said Shahril in a statement.
Shahril is among the party's casualties in GE15. He lost the contest at the Alor Gajah parliamentary constituency to Pakatan Harapan's (PH) Adly Zahari.
Former Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Mastura Mohd Yazid did not hold back in her rant against Zahid.
Mastura in a Facbook posting said Zahid and the party's Supreme Council promised to field at least 30 per cent women candidates in GE15.
"However, the promise was not honoured.
"Wanita Umno and Wanita BN are extremely disappointed since we were loyal and were working hard for the party," she said.