Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh has again denied being an agent of Perikatan Nasional (PN), responding to accusations that he is acting as the coalition’s proxy.
Utusan Malaysia reported him as saying that his vocal stance on recent controversies reflected the will of the grassroots, who wanted to see Umno return to its original struggle.
“If I were truly a PN agent, I would have just joined PN. What I carry today is the voice and aspirations of the grassroots.
“The truth may be bitter, but we must accept it. In any struggle, not everything is sweet,” he said after attending the Terengganu Umno Youth assembly in Jerteh last night.
In August last year, Akmal denied being an agent for PN, saying he would continue to speak against others including Umno allies in the unity government if they interfered with matters related to Malay rights, Islam, and the monarchy.
On Aug 15, DAP Youth chief Woo Kah Leong criticised Akmal for focusing his attacks on petty traders and allies in the unity government instead of taking on PN.
Woo’s comments came after Akmal led a rally outside a hardware store in Kepala Batas, Penang, the owner of which was accused of hoisting the Jalur Gemilang upside down.
Akmal had proceeded with the rally despite police warnings, quipping that he only wanted to check whether a DAP-sponsored giant flag outside the shop had been correctly hung.
Akmal, the Merlimau assemblyman, said people should view him more as an agent of Umno in pushing for the party to remain relevant and regain public trust.
He added that the personal attacks and negative labels hurled at him on social media only served to weaken the party, when Umno should instead unite to face current challenges.
He also stressed that Umno Youth would continue to play a vital role as the frontline defender of religion, race, and nation, true to the spirit of struggle that he said had guided the party wing since its establishment in 1949.
