SEREMBAN: Calls for Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) to step down are growing louder with the Seremban Umno Youth chief Zool Amali Hussin telling the party president to take responsibility for the party's poor showing.
He said speculation that Barisan Nasional would not do well in GE15 because of the Ahmad Zahid factor had been proven right.
"Ahmad Zahid is the main reason why we did badly.
"He has to take responsibility just like Datuk Seri Najib Razak did when we lost GE14," he said.
He said there might be party members who disagree with him but the truth needed to be told.
GE14 said if Ahmad Zahid did not step down, Barisan might also do badly in the Negri Sembilan elections due next year.
Barisan controls 16 of the 36 seats in the state assembly.
"Someone has to speak up no matter how bitter the truth. If we do not make the change now, I am certain we will also do badly in the state polls," he said.
Zool Amali said there were some in the division's youth wing, who even before GE15, had said Barisan would not do well due to Ahmad Zahid.
However, as loyal party members, they did not voice this out and continued to give their best during the campaign period.
"But we are not going to stay silent any longer because if we do not make the change, the people will never accept us.
"In fact, there were already calls for Ahmad Zahid to make way even before the polls," he said, adding that the campaign line by Barisan's rivals that one vote for Barisan meant one vote for Ahmad Zahid to become prime minister had been effective.
He also urged Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki to resign for failing to win the Gerik parliamentary seat.
"In my opinion, many of the young candidates fielded by Ahmad Zahid did not fit the criteria the youth wanted," he said.
He said what was most disheartening was the decision to field former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin in Sungai Buloh, which was not a safe seat.
