KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA January 16, 2026 – Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) chief Woo Kah Leong have once again traded sharp criticisms publicly, following Akmal’s announcement of his resignation from the Melaka state executive council (Exco) yesterday.
Akmal resigned from his position as Malacca chairman of the Rural Development, Agriculture, and Food Security Committee, effective next week. He cited his desire to focus on “fighting DAP to the end” while defending the dignity of religion, race, and the nation. In his policy speech during the Umno Youth General Assembly at the 2025 Umno General Assembly (PAU), Akmal emphasized that he remains Umno Youth chief and issued a stern warning to those he claims frequently pressure the Umno president and the Malacca Chief Minister.
In response, Woo Kah Leong posted a brief message on Facebook, accusing Akmal of targeting the wrong opponent. He reminded that Umno’s “real enemy” is Perikatan Nasional (PN), which seized many Umno seats in the 15th General Election (PRU15), not DAP within the Unity Government.
Woo added that Akmal’s decision to resign in order to “fight DAP” is inconsistent with reality, urging Umno Youth to reflect on its own actions rather than treating DAP as an “imaginary enemy” whenever sensitive issues arise.
Later Akmal labeled Woo Kah Leong as “shameful” and “lacking dignity” compared to leaders with integrity. He slammed DAPSY for repeatedly criticizing Umno’s position without acknowledging current political realities, while stressing that he is unafraid of any pressure to step down.
This clash is not the first between the two young leaders. Since 2025, they have frequently exchanged views on various issues, including the upside-down Jalur Gemilang controversy, sensitive religious matters such as guidelines for non-Islamic events, as well as accusations of hypocrisy and racial provocation.
Political analysts view this confrontation as reflecting internal tensions within the Unity Government between Umno Youth and DAP wings, even as cooperation at the top leadership level remains stable. Several parties have called on both sides to avoid confrontational rhetoric to preserve national political stability.
As of now, there has been no official response from the top leadership of Umno or DAP regarding the latest developments, though continued monitoring is expected following the ongoing Umno General Assembly.
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