Pulai Umno chief Nur Jazlan Mohamed is against having party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi go on leave following the graft charges filed against him.

"We do not agree with any calls for Zahid to go on leave. He was chosen by the party at the last part election so why should he go on leave?" Nur Jazlan said in a statement after chairing a Pulai Umno meeting today.

Yesterday, Zahid was slapped with 45 charges of corruption and money laundering at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

Following this, Umno deputy president Mohamed Hasan noted that Umno had a standard operating procedure since 2009 requiring senior leaders slapped with criminal charges to go on leave.

"However, if they are later found not guilty, the leaders can resume their positions," he had said.

However, Nur Jazlan claimed that the charges against Zahid were meant to weaken Umno and warned that any other leader who stood in for Zahid would also face charges.

"Therefore, it is important for Umno members at all levels not to act rashly," he said.

He added that it was best to wait until the court arrives at a decision.