KUALA LUMPUR: Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has defended the party’s Youth wing over the controversy sparked by inaccurate graphics posted by Malaysiakini.
Mohamad, commonly known as Tok Mat, said the matter did not warrant intervention from the party’s top leadership.
“So let the pig (graphics) issue be handled by Akmal and the Youth wing. It is not for the deputy president or the president to manage that,” he said in his winding-up speech at the 79th Umno General Assembly.
Mohamad, who is also Rembau member of parliament, said young leaders must be given space to respond to external provocations.
He said the Youth wing played a vital role as the party’s outspoken and combative “front line”.
“The Youth wing functions as the noisemaker and the rebellious force. Make noise. But do not make noise at me, make noise at outsiders,” he said.
Addressing Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhammad Akmal Saleh, Mohamad urged him to press on, warning that stifling the wing would weaken the party.
“Okay, Akmal? Carry on. I have said within the party that we must give the Youth wing space. If we tie their legs, bind their hands and shut their mouths, Umno will become a wrapped corpse in the blink of an eye,” he said.
He reassured members that the leadership stood firmly behind them, urging them not to be intimidated by criticism or pressure.
“Go ahead. Do not worry. Do not be anxious or distressed, the president (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) is there. As was said earlier, if you end up in lock-up, the president will be there to post bail. What is there to be afraid of? Do not be afraid,” he said.
Mohamad, however, said that while robust responses were encouraged, they must remain rational and strategic.
On Thursday, Umno Youth gave Malaysiakini 24 hours to issue a public apology in person over errors in their graphics. Two graphics had erroneously reused the headline of a Bahasa Malaysia article about the Umno General Assembly.
Another graphic overlaid the headline on an image of pigs at a farm, which was intended for a post about the Selangor pig farming issue in Tanjung Sepat.
Previously, Zahid said Malaysiakini editors met the party leadership on Friday to apologise over the matter.
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