UMNO president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi warned leaders not to exploit controversies for personal popularity, stressing that discipline and unity must take precedence to protect party cohesion and government stability.
He said legal issues and political disputes must be addressed separately.
“If there is a breach of law, then legal action must be taken. But political disagreements must go through political processes,” Zahid said during an event in Seberang Perak on Sunday.
He added that political decisions should not be dictated by isolated incidents, particularly if they risk destabilising the 18-party MADANI coalition.
His remarks followed heightened tensions between UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and DAP, after Akmal led a protest in Kepala Batas. DAP subsequently instructed its youth wing to lodge police reports nationwide and called for political distancing.
Zahid reiterated that reconciliation and respect for leadership decisions are crucial for UMNO’s electoral readiness and long-term unity, citing past disputes between Tajuddin Abdul Rahman and Khairul Azwan Harun as an example.
