Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh is no longer just a noisy youth chief. He has become the most visible crack threatening to split a unity government that is currently holding the country together.

At a time when Malaysia is enjoying political calm, improving investor confidence and a strengthening ringgit, Akmal has chosen to play the role of saboteur. His call for Umno to leave the government is reckless, driven by personal dissatisfaction and factional loyalty, risking national instability for ego, attention and allegiance to a disgraced political past.

The Madani government, despite internal differences, has delivered measurable gains. The ringgit has strengthened, foreign investment remains steady, and economic policy is clearer and more predictable than during the years of political turmoil. These results are the product of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership, coalition stability and a conscious effort to move away from constant conflict. This is exactly what Akmal now seeks to destroy.

His push for Umno to quit the government ignores political reality. Umno lost public trust after years of corruption scandals, and leaving the coalition now would not restore the party’s dignity but deepen public anger. Even within Umno, many youth members see his position as regressive, weakening the party rather than protecting Malay interests. Umno information chief Azalina Othman Said has questioned the survey cited to justify Akmal’s call, highlighting how unsupported his stance really is.

Akmal’s loyalty to Najib Razak, a convicted criminal found guilty of 1MDB-linked abuse of power and money laundering, further exposes his priorities. His attacks on the government appear less about national interest and more about protecting his political boss. His actions on the ground, from the KK Mart socks controversy to public attacks on DAP leaders, show a willingness to inflame racial and religious tensions for political mileage, harming businesses and communities.

Despite holding the Umno youth chief post, Akmal acts as if the party alone has a moral right to rule, ignoring electoral realities and public demand for reform. He disregards the very benefits Umno enjoys from the unity pact, where president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is deputy prime minister and minister, several others hold federal portfolios, and the party controls four state governments. His push to quit the government would risk all these gains. Would they want to jeopardise all that for Akmal?

Akmal represents the worst instincts of old politics. He thrives on division, racial suspicion and constant agitation. By pushing Umno towards opposition and attacking the Madani government from within, he is actively working against stability, reform and economic recovery.

Malaysia cannot afford leaders willing to burn everything down for personal or factional gain. If Akmal continues, he will weaken the unity government, erode Umno’s future, and risk dragging the country back into instability Malaysians are desperate to leave behind.

By: Jeffri Saling
Jeffri Saling is a sharp, unapologetic political critic who delights in slicing through Malaysia’s political theatre with wit and precision. His commentary blends strategic insight with razor-edged sarcasm, exposing contradictions, deflating egos and dismantling neatly packaged narratives across the political aisle.