Khairy: Umno warlords swung it for Ahmad Zahid (Updated)

PETALING JAYA: Umno warlords continue to control the party elections by forcing members to vote for their chosen candidate, Khairy Jamaluddin (pix) said after losing the race for the Umno presidency on Saturday.
He said the voting pattern showed that members wanted change but the electoral college system favoured warlords who have a strong grip on their divisions.

"Many were ordered, threatened, and forced to follow the warlords' choice," said the former Umno Youth chief.
In a graphic posted on Twitter, Khairy showed that he received 32,592 votes, 6,605 votes less than Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's 39,197 in the presidential race and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah received 20,462 votes.
He said the overall result from the divisions revealed that he had won 61 divisions, Zahid 99 and Razaleigh won 30.
He added that it is sad the warlords remain deaf to the demands of the public for change.
"I want to see Umno change, the feudal mentality that is widespread in the party must come to an end but I will still accept the results," he said.
Khairy said members must get rid of the mentality of just agreeing with everything the leaders say as it seems as if they don't have a stand themselves.
In response, Ahmad Zahid brushed off the allegations, claiming that was his (Khairy) own analysis of the outcome.
"Every candidate who wins or loses, will have their own analysis and opinions on the elections, but the reality is we have to be open to accept the decisions made by the delegates."
Commenting on former Puteri Chief Datuk Mas Ermieyatie quitting the party, he said she should have based her decision on the fact that she is an elected representative of the people in her constituency.
"We contested under the party's name, thus all decisions should be in the interest of the people and the party that we represented.
"In this matter, I have asked for a mandate from elected representatives especially the MPs (in Umno), that if we want to negotiate or make a decision, we have to do it en bloc," he said.
He also confirmed the probe by the anti-graft agency on a foundation run by his family.
He said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had called him to give statements over several issues mainly regarding his charity foundation.
"I want to state that I was asked to give an explanation on several issues mainly as published in some news reports that I would be giving a statement regarding a foundation, which belongs to my own family.
"The purpose of the foundation is to do charity work like building of mosques, tahfiz, orphanages and conduct other welfare activities according to religious order.
"And the fund placed under the foundation is my own contribution and also contributions from a few friends who want to do charity," he told a press conference at the Umno headquarters with his new line-up of leaders after party polls.
Ahmad Zahid said he would explain the matter further after giving his statement to MACC officers today.
"I don't know what are the questions MACC will put forward but I will give my full cooperation and will be transparent in my statement," he said, adding that he is still discussing the time he would be there to do so.
The Bagan Datuk MP is bogged by allegations of misappropriation of funds from the foundation, allegedly used to pay off credit card bills belonging to him and his wife, amounting to RM800,000 since 2014.
On Umno's account freeze, Ahmad Zahid disclosed that Umno has appealed to the MACC to allow some flexibility to release some fund from the account in order to pay salaried full-time staff, rental and other overhead expenditures.
As for the Opposition leader in parliament, he said he would be having a pre-council meeting with PAS prior to the 14th Parliament session on the matter.