KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki will not be defending his post as Umno Youth chief in this year's party polls.
Announcing this in his winding-up speech at the Umno Youth delegates' conference this evening, he said he wanted to make way for someone new to "steer the ship".
"I apologise for my failure to lead. I have tried my best to revive Umno Youth. I put my heart and soul into this, until I could not even take my wife and children for a holiday."
He urged the Umno Youth leaders to preservere and maintain the movement's platform to serve the people and urged them to close ranks.
"This is all Allah's will. What's important is that we are sincere and remain true (to our struggles)," he added.
Asyraf, 46, has held the position as Youth chief since 2018, beating Khairul Azwan Harun. Currently, there is no age limit to contest as the wing's chief.
In his speech, he also advised members to let bygones be bygones, and not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
"Don't put up an act in the party… don't forget that we must rise together. Umno Youth needs to change its approach, orientation, and the way we work. We need to return to our (true) identity.
"The party is too precious for us to betray it," said Asyraf.