News

  • Nation
  • World Updates
  • Courts
  • Parliament
  • Columnists
  • Opinion
  • Honours List

Monday May 12, 2008

Mahathir welcomes Muhyiddin’s willingness to speak out


Watch the video

SHAH ALAM: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has welcomed Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's willingness to contest for either of the party's top two posts.

“I think it is a very encouraging statement from him. I think others should also express their views.

Having his say: Tun Dr Mahathir speaking during the Look East Policy forum in Shah Alam Sunday.

“At the moment, he is the only one who has dared to voice his opinion,” said the former prime minister, adding that many Umno leaders were “afraid to speak their mind”.

“People should be free to voice their opinions. Nowadays, I talk to a lot of Umno leaders, and certainly the rank and file, and they have very definite views.

“But when I ask them to tell the leaders (their views), they say Oh no’. You don't say anything the leaders don't want to hear,” he said to reporters after a forum organised by the Alumni Look East Policy Society.

Dr Mahathir said nothing would change if the party constitution was not amended and if the 30% quota of support of divisions needed for a presidential contest remained.

“By December, maybe Datuk (Seri) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) will get more than 60 nominations but no one else can get near 60,” he said.

  • E-mail this story
  • Print this story

News Poll