Mohamad, better known as Tok Mat, said he is aware that certain quarters have labelled Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh as “rude” for speaking out loudly on public issues at its recent special convention.

“I don’t see it that way. The role of the youth wing is indeed to be bold and rebellious. Their duty is to serve as a clarion call.

“My message to Akmal and the youth wing – continue to be courageous.

“But be a constructive opposition from within the government,” he said at the opening of the general assembly of Umno’s Wanita, Youth, and Puteri wings at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur tonight.

Mohamad said the youth wing must be the first line of defence if government policies were seen as harmful to the Malays or burdensome to the rakyat.

“Prove that Umno Youth is the most effective in protecting the Malays, not those who only know how to play on sentiment,” he said.

At a special convention on Jan 3, Akmal had called for the party to withdraw its support for the unity government and join the opposition, citing repeated violations of “red lines” involving 3R (race, religion and royalty) matters.

He said the Malays were angered by the “Allah” socks and upside-down flag incidents, but that those penalised were the ones “defending” Islam and the Jalur Gemilang.

He said the Malays were also upset when alcohol was served at a government event.

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, however, said the party will remain loyal to the unity government until the next general election.

Akmal had said it might be “time for me to step aside” after Zahid rejected his call for Umno to leave the government and renew its cooperation with PAS under Muafakat Nasional.

Zahid and Akmal subsequently held a meeting to discuss the latter’s role and future direction within the party, with the outcome to be announced by Akmal himself today.