Mukhriz: My father will never support the opposition - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said this is not the time to change direction and stressed the importance of continuing with the current leadership.

He was commenting on reports which quoted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as saying that there had been no "gentleman's agreement" between him and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he would only serve as prime minister for one term.

Mukhriz said his father would neither oppose the government nor support the opposition.

"My father will never support the opposition. He has fought the opposition all his life."

Mukhriz, the movement's International Relations and Non-Governmental Organisations Bureau chairman, said this after accepting a RM100,000 donation for Aman Malaysia's Gaza Humanitarian Fund from Cheras Umno and the Cheras Education Foundation, represented by Senator Datuk Syed Ali Al-Habshee.

Instead, Mukhriz, who is also Aman Malaysia's co-ordinator, said the opposition would try to manipulate the issue to its own advantage and attempt to sow confusion among the people.

"I think both their remarks would strengthen Umno."

[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Saturday/National/2148090/Article/index_html]