Permatang Pauh Umno chief Zaidi Said has resigned as a Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) councillor following a speech at his party’s general assembly last weekend in which he described DAP as Umno’s “main enemy”.
In a Facebook post, Penang state executive councillor H’ng Mooi Lye thanked Zaidi for being willing to apologise and relinquish his position, saying he had taken responsibility for his mistake.
H’ng also shared a copy of Zaidi’s resignation letter addressed to him. Copies were sent to Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, Penang Umno chief Musa Sheikh Fadzir and MBSP chairman Baderul Amin Abdul Hamid.
Zaidi apologises and accepts responsibility
In his letter dated Sept 14, Zaidi said that after reviewing his speech at the Umno gathering, he realised he needed to exercise greater caution when expressing views concerning parties that jointly form the state government.
“I wish to express, with a full sense of responsibility, my regret and apologise for the speech I delivered,” he said.
Zaidi said the incident was an important lesson for him, adding that individual views and positions should be expressed with due consideration, particularly when a person also holds responsibilities within a shared state administration.
“After giving this matter deep consideration and as a sign that I am taking full responsibility for this mistake, I hereby officially resign as an MBSP councillor, effective Sept 14,” he said.
Zaidi stressed that his resignation was made voluntarily and without coercion from any party.
“I will subsequently leave it to my party to propose another person deemed suitable to fill the vacancy and carry on the responsibility and duties,” he said.
Zaidi acknowledges concerns over DAP remarks
Zaidi acknowledged that the Umno general assembly should not have been used to express views that “could create perceptions or misunderstandings about DAP”, particularly in the context of cooperation and the administration of the Penang government.
He said he also recognised that Umno and DAP have their own histories, principles, political approaches and ideologies shaped over many years.
Building mutual understanding and finding common ground, he said, would require time, wisdom, maturity and mutual respect from all parties.
Zaidi had criticised Umno-DAP cooperation
At the Umno general assembly last week, Zaidi claimed that Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s strategy of cooperating with PKR was aimed at weakening the party, which would eventually affect its coalition partner, DAP.
He said DAP, which he described as Umno’s “main enemy”, could not be directly defeated because it had its own voter support.
