Saturday March 15, 2008
‘Mukhriz acted alone’
By SIRA HABIBU and PAUL CHOO
PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth has distanced itself from Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir’s call for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign.
Its chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said in a statement sent via SMS that Mukhriz’s call was made on his own accord, and did not represent the stand of Umno Youth.
“If it is true that Mukhriz has asked for the Prime Minister’s resignation, then it is not the stand of Umno Youth, as our decisions have always been made collectively.
“As I have stated before, Umno Youth’s loyalty belongs to the leadership of the Prime Minister and his deputy.
“If the statement has been made of his (Mukhriz) own accord, it is my personal stand that his call was made at a time and in a method that is not appropriate,” he said in his text message.
Yesterday Mukhriz, who is Umno Youth executive council member, wrote a letter to Abdullah pressuring him to step down after the ruling coalition’s dismal showing in the 12th general election, describing the move as the honourable thing to do.
Hishammuddin's SMS, however, did not mention if any action would be taken against Mukhriz.
Mukhriz had also caused headlines in July last year when rumours spread of his intention to contest for the movement’s top post.
He had then pledged to give his full attention to helping Hishammuddin and Umno Youth.
When contacted in ALOR STAR, Mukhriz expressed surprise that the personal letter dated March 12 had ended up on the Internet.
“It was a personal, heartfelt letter addressed to the Prime Minister,” he said, adding that carbon copies of the letter were sent to top Umno leaders, namely deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, vice-president Datuk Wira Ali Rustam, vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and secretary-general Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.
Mukhriz said the Barisan’s colossal defeat in its strongholds showed that even party members had betrayed the coalition.
“If Datuk Seri (Abdullah) does not step down in the near future, I am really worried that the trust of the rakyat, especially the Malays, in Umno and BN would diminish,” he added in the letter.
Mukhriz acknowledged that the letter would anger Abdullah and other Umno members.
“However, in the interest of the Malays and Umno, I am willing to accept reactions to this appeal,” he said.
Mukhriz ended the letter saying he was confident Abdullah would do the right thing for the sake of both race and nation.
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