KUALA LUMPUR: The failure of Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to manage the party and the perception of his court cases has made UMNO easily 'bullied' by its political rivals, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), PAS or others.

Paya Besar UMNO division chief, Datuk Ahmad Tajuddin Sulaiman, said the UMNO president should also relinquish his post and leave his responsibilities if he thinks he can no longer control the party's Supreme Council (MT) members.

"He is overzealous to make power the party's goal, ultimately making UMNO lose direction.

"The effect is seen as without a stand and easily used by political rival parties whether Bersatu, PAS and others," he said when contacted on Monday.

Earlier, the UMNO Information Strategic Communications Department (JKS) denied news reports that the MT had decided to reject cooperation between Bersatu and the Perikatan Nasional (PN) in the next general election.

JKS explained that the report by the media on the rejection of the cooperation was incorrect and the UMNO headquarters took the allegation seriously.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Tajuddin said, Ahmad Zahid must face any prosecution in court as a challenge for the survival of UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN) if he rejects PN's cooperation, including severing ties with Muafakat Nasional (MN).

"Ahmad Zahid needs to make a choice for BN to continue to move forward, and at the same time emphasise the stand of UMNO and BN in facing the 15th General Election (GE-15) alone," he said.

He added that Ahmad Zahid also needs to explain the true direction of UMNO.

"Is the formation of UMNO in 1946 only represent an organisation to gain power or is it the beginning of a development of Malay civilization, the continuation of what was started by the Malay Rulers and the Malay leaders before and during the colonial period," he said.

Ahmad Zahid had previously revealed that the formation of the PN government was only based on a majority of just one vote.

He said, at the time of its formation, the PN government was only supported by 113 MPs when the support of at least 112 MPs was needed to form a government.