KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 18): Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has handed over his duties to his deputy Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan in the face of an exodus of leaders from the party. 

Ahmad Zahid said in a statement that a section of Umno leaders were concerned they would be investigated and could face multiple charges, just as he was facing. 

So far, Ahmad Zahid has been charged with 45 counts of corruption, criminal breach of trust and money laundering. 

Umno, which won 54 seats in Parliament in the 14th general election, has been hit by a spate of resignations, and is left with 37 MPs. 

In the latest wave, the Sabah Umno leadership left the party en masse on Dec 12, when nine of 10 assemblymen, five of six MPs, two senators, and 21 of 25 division heads announced a mass exodus from the party.