Zahid, who is also Umno vice-president but discharging the duties of a deputy president following the sacking of Muhyiddin Yassin, said those who used political warfare to obtain ‘ghanimah’ (war booty) would only end-up ruining the party.

“In political warfare, certain members look for ‘ghanimah’ or returns in politics. If no ‘ghanimah’ is obtained, then these members put up a silent protest that could lead to the destruction of the party.

“When personal interests are prioritised and politics becomes a platform to obtain the ghanimah, there will come a time when the destruction of a party will take place not from the outside, but from inside,” he said.

He was speaking to reporters after opening the Pokok Sena Umno division delegates meeting here today.

Also present was the division’s deputy chief Ariffin Man.

Thus, Zahid said the 70-year-old political party (Umno) was not a bourse for making profit, instead it was now a social institution for the Malays and the backbone of Barisan Nasional, a coalition that fought for the interests of Malaysia’s plural society.

Meanwhile, Zahid urged all Umno members to put aside negativity and instead focus on seeking leaders with good qualities, not those who climbed the ranks because of money politics.

“We want leaders with (great) leadership qualities, authentic, real and not someone who puts personal interests over other things,” he said.

At the event, Zahid also announced the approval of a multi-purpose hall to be built in Pokok Sena and a RM2 million allocation for small projects in the district.