Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi speaks during the ‘Politik Malaysia Baharu’ town hall session at PWTC in Kuala Lumpur April 6, 2019. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

IPOH, July 7 — Former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is facing 87 charges for alleged corruption, today voiced his dissatisfaction over complaints about his return to the top post in Umno, after going on leave since December last year.

He said their calls that Umno’s Supreme Council (MT) should have a say in the matter was unfair to him.

“When I wanted to go on leave they did not say it must be discussed by the MT. This is my right as the lawfully elected president of Umno,” he said when opening Tambun Umno’s annual general meeting here today.

Ahmad Zahid returned to the post on June 30. Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan discharged the duties of the president while Ahmad Zahid was on leave.

Former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin was reported as saying that the MT should have been consulted about his (Ahmad Zahid’s) returning to the Number One post.

The Rembau Member of Parliament said he disagreed with the opinion expressed by former prime minister and former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak that Ahmad Zahid was free to return to the post without having to get the nod of the MT.

Najib is also facing a slew of charges for alleged criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering.

The Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition lost in the 14th general election in May last year after having been in power in the country since independence in 1957. — Bernama