Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak spoke to reporters at a press conference after the Umno Supreme Council held a special meeting to discuss Dr Mahathir’s resignation at the party’s headquarters Wednesday night.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Umno Supreme Council special meeting - TheStarOnline.tv
Now it is Mokhzani who follows dad out of Umno - NST
KUALA LUMPUR, Wed:
Two days after Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his shock resignation from Umno, his second son, Datuk Mokhzani, followed suit today. The 46-year-old businessman also made the same demand as his father that the Prime Minister and Umno president steps down.
Dr Mahathir's third son, Datuk Mukhriz, is, however, not following into his father's footsteps, preferring to remain as a member and Jerlun MP, rationalising that it would be better for him to fight the PM from within the party.
Dr Mahathir's wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamed Ali, had also resigned together with her husband.
The ex-Prime Minister's resignation triggered a party wide condemnation and shock, with many Umno leaders either criticising Dr Mahathir or appealing that he re-consider his decision.
Umno's 70-odd MPs had yesterday pledged support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to continue leading the party and Government during a meeting at Parliament House.
[From http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/20080521115515/Article/index_html]
Muhkriz Denies Having Said He'll Quit Umno In July - Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth Executive Council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir Wednesday denied he had stated he would quit Umno in July should Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi not step down as Umno president and prime minister by then.
He said he had only said that he had the right to change his stand at any time according to developments and had also not stated that there was only one way out, and which was to quit the party, when there were many other options.
"I did not say that by July if the prime minister does not step down, then I will quit the party," he told reporters at the lobby of Parliament House, here.
Mukhriz, who is the Member of Parliament for Jerlun, said the reference to July was because of the Umno branch meetings scheduled to begin then and he hoped that a drastic change would take place before the branch meetings begin, and not that he would quit the party.
He had said Tuesday that he would not quit Umno as his father, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, did two days ago because there was much work to be done and his struggle was not for the party alone but for his parliamentary constituency as well.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had expressed regret over Mukhriz's statement and said he would refer the matter to the party's management committee.
[More at http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news.php?id=334497]
ACA ordered to reinvestigate Eusoff - The Star
By Lourdes Charles
PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has been ordered to reinvestigate former Chief Justice Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin and lawyer V.K. Lingam.
The directive came from Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail who wants investigations to be centred on the New Zealand vacation in 1994 when the former top judge and his family were photographed holidaying with Lingam’s family.
It is learnt that Abdul Gani issued the directive to the ACA yesterday morning.
The investigations will focus on certain issues raised by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the V.K. Lingam video clip.
The ACA had in 1998 investigated the case following information from the public but it was ordered closed by the then Attorney-General due to lack of evidence.
It is learnt that the ACA has set up a team to study the commission’s findings and to see if it can unearth new evidence.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/21/nation/21311687&sec=nation]
Mat Taib: History not on Dr Mahathir’s side - The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: All former Umno presidents except for Tun Abdul Razak ended up outside the party, yet support from the grassroots continued to be strong, said Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib.
“(Founder) Datuk Onn (Jaafar) left to start Parti Negara but the Malays stayed (with Umno). Tunku Abdul Rahman, (and) Tun Hussein (Onn) were not in Umno when they died.
“The irony is that Umno members remained (each time a former leader quit the party) and continued to support the leadership at that time,” he said.
Tun Abdul Razak was Umno president and Prime Minister when he died.
However, Muhammad said it was unprecedented for a former party leader to ask for the removal of the present leader.
Muhammad urged party members to stay in the party and make it stronger.
“We hope they will remain calm and not resort to actions that will weaken the party. What is important is for the party to remain intact,” he said.
[From http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/21/nation/21317503&sec=nation]
Expert: Dr Mahathir’s decision will hasten rise of Anwar - The Star
THE decision by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quit Umno will catalyse the rise of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reported China Press.
Current affairs commentator Datuk Dr Cheah See Kian was quoted by the daily as saying that the current political scenario could pave the way for Anwar to become the next prime minister.
He believed the current “battle” between Dr Mahathir and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would certainly cause dissatisfaction among Umno leaders and members.
As such, he foresees some of them jumping ship and collaborating with Anwar, which would ultimately lead to Anwar regaining political power.
Dr Cheah said Dr Mahathir was keen to see a “reshuffle” within Umno.
He added that Dr Mahathir was hopeful that his “preferences” would move up the ranks.
Dr Cheah believed that Dr Mahathir would not like to see his nemesis Anwar rise and gain control, but at the same time, he also did not like Abdullah to be at the helm.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/21/nation/21310281&sec=nation]
Crisis in Umno getting worse, says Anwar - The Star
PETALING JAYA: The resignation of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed indicates a worsening of the crisis in Umno and Barisan Nasional, said Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The internal problem of the party was deteriorating beyond any hope of recovery, and the welfare of Malaysians was being neglected, he said in a statement.
He added that Malaysians must avoid being trapped by personal agendas to replace leaders.
PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the whole issue was just about Umno’s internal politics and it showed that Umno had no direction.
“We, however, welcome it if it makes our party stronger and they (Umno members) are also welcome to join us,” she said.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/21/nation/21317658&sec=nation]
Rafidah: Dr Mahathir is disloyal - The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s resignation was an act of disloyalty to the party, said Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz.
She said she was shocked to hear about Dr Mahathir’s departure, considering that he was someone who always talked about being loyal to Umno.
“We understand that the issues raised by Tun was about leadership but this is a process that must take place graciously and it should not come to (the level of) bringing people down.”
Rafidah said that Umno’s position as the backbone of the Government also had to be taken into consideration.
“What he did was to be disloyal but I think most members are still loyal and that everyone will remain calm,” she added.
In Malacca, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam called on Dr Mahathir to reconsider his decision.
[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/21/nation/21317681&sec=nation]
I'm no hero, says man who dared Dr M - NST
By : Noor Adzman Baharuddin
ALOR STAR: Ismail Wan Teh is regarded by some, especially Pas supporters, as a hero of sorts.
The reason, they say, is that he dared to challenge former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to take the lead in quitting Umno after he had goaded party members to leave the party temporarily as a sign of protest against the leadership of his successor, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
But the 42-year-old Ismail, who is Jerlun Pas division deputy chairman, resented the hero tag.
"No. I never intended to challenge or dare him to make the first move," Ismail said here yesterday.
"I have been following his statements in the newspapers and I think many people would have expected him to make such a move and that it was just a matter of timing, and I am no hero.
"Honestly, I wasn't challenging him although he had responded by saying that he thought I was issuing him a challenge.
"I also did not ask him as a politician because the organisers had reminded us that it was an event to discuss the future of the Malays, regardless of their political affiliation."
[More at http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Wednesday/Frontpage/2245855/Article/index_html]
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