Zahid: Those who 'keluar sekejap' should leave for good [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno is unfazed by any of its members choosing to leave the party for their interests, said its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said that his primary mission at present is to reunite party members and the grassroots.

"Those who leave the party temporarily (keluar sekejap) should leave for good (keluar selama-lamanya). If they want to be away temporarily or permanently, so be it... those who remain must stay loyal to the party.

"How can we not be weakened if the party is divided? That is why my goal in Umno now is to bring members and the grassroots back together," he said.

Despite not naming the individuals, the remarks came on the heels of duo Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan, who host the popular 'Keluar Sekejap' podcast.

Speaking on the Podcast Utama Buletin Utama, Zahid also cited himself as an example of party loyalty despite facing immense pressure from his political adversaries.

Commenting on the same matter, he linked the court cases he is facing to efforts aimed at undermining his political career.

"For instance, I have 87 charges against me, and it is clear that these were deliberately brought forward. But when I defended myself in court, it became evident - 40 cases in the Shah Alam Court were dismissed and acquitted, with evidence and witnesses revealing the truth.

"As for the 47 cases in the Kuala Lumpur Court, I have undergone trials for over three years, yet I remain in Umno without any fear, even when I was threatened to dissolve Umno and join them.

"I have paid a high price for refusing to align with a prime minister who only lasted 22 months. But I paid it... so what is there to fear?" he said.

Reflecting on the turmoil within Umno, Zahid said he would rather see the party with fewer but truly loyal members than individuals acting as traitors.

"If there are 'wolves in sheep's clothing' or opportunists trying to take advantage, I believe these people are not needed. Let Umno have fewer members. We do not want numbers just for the sake of it, ending up like foam on the ocean," he said.