‘Apa yang kita nak malu’, Akmal pertahan pemimpin Umno berdepan dakwaan

Ketua Pemuda Umno, Dr Akmal Saleh, has defended party leader Anwar Ibrahim, stating that there is no reason for anyone to feel ashamed while supporting him, even when he is in jail. In a speech at the Umno Youth Conference, Akmal emphasized that there is no reason to feel ashamed about supporting the party leader, as they have not been implicated in any wrongdoing.

Akmal addressed the controversial case against former Tabung Haji chairman Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, asserting that the charges against him do not mean he is guilty. He questioned whether the accusation implies guilt and questioned the purpose of feeling ashamed about supporting their leaders.

Other Umno leaders accused of misconduct include former Prime Minister Najib Razak, currently serving a prison sentence for SRC International, and an additional 15-year prison term for the 1MDB case. Akmal compared Umno's support for their leaders to the backing Anwar Ibrahim received when he was jailed, and he noted that they never felt ashamed.

Akmal also supported Najib Razak's recent royal pardon in the SRC case, emphasizing that Umno never questioned the decision by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to grant forgiveness to Anwar in 2018. He stressed that the pardon power of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong should not be contested.

Umno Youth vowed to hold a rally if any individual or organization questions the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's authority. Akmal pledged that Pemuda Umno will gather and oppose vehemently to uphold the supremacy of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.