Many have expected the Umno Youth executive council member to follow the footstep of his father, former Prime MinisterTun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who resigned from the party yesterday, citing dissatisfaction over the current leadership.
But his decision to stay on should not come as a surprise since Mukhriz, who is the MP for Jerlun, is going for the post of Umno Youth chief in December.
Read the full Star report:
Mukhriz not quitting, urges PM to step down (updated)
KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Youth executive council member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said he is not resigning from Umno, but reiterated his call for Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi to step down as prime minister and party president.The Jerlun MP, who is expected to contest for the post of Umno Youth chief in December, had previously called for Abdullah to step down after the March 8 polls that saw the Barisan Nasional coalition losing its two-thirds majority in Parliament.
On Monday, Mukhriz's father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, resigned from the party, citing his dissatisfaction over the current leadership.
He urged other Umno members to also leave until there was a change in party leadership. Father and son have both attributed -- directly in the case of the former -- Barisan's disappointing performance in the 12th general election to Abdullah.
After the polls, Mukhriz had written a letter to Abdullah urging him to take responsibility for the dismal results, but later denied that he had asked the Prime Minister to quit.In April, Mukhriz said that a party leadership change should occur by the end of the year so that a tense contest can be avoided during the Umno annual assembly in December.
He said any contest during party polls could further fracture the party, and urged Abdullah to hand over the reins to his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
On Monday, former premier Dr Mahathir announced that he would be quitting the party, much to the surprise of party members nationwide.
Go here for Mukhriz's media statement
10 comments:
mahathir is trying to fan the issue so that he can get all the publicity. We, who are not in UMNO should not help him to fan the flame. From now on we should be more restrain in our response and reaction to what he says and does.
Don’t help him, don’t fall into his trap. Just stand aside and watch!
Kak
This is the answer that many of us have been waiting for since Dr M announced yesterday that he's quitting UMNO. All of us wanted to know if his son would follow suit.
Like what you said, many would have expected him to, after all Dr M is his dad, and surely there's got to be some family loyalties?
But again, like what you said, Mukhriz has a lot more on his shoulders compared to Dr M. His entire political career is looming in front of him, and I think it would have been too big of a risk for him to quit UMNO at this point in time.
What do you think of the entire episode?
michelle,
Qutting the party and following his dad, would mean giving up his dream of leading the youth movement and giving a "laluan" to another contender to the post, Khairy, the son-in-law.
I think he is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea - difficult choice, ma! Dont know if he had discussed with his dad abt his decision to stay on in Umno.
Probably he had convinced his father that it'be better to stay on and fight from within. Maybe, who knows.
But IMO it would be the right thing - honourable thing to do - for him to leave the party.
What do I think of the episode?
I think Dr M is targetting the grassroots in Umno who have been unhappy with the top party leadership. I dont think he expects the existing Umno leaders to take up his advice. They have so much to lose - position, power, money. Naah they're not going to give all that up.
Whether there is going to be an exodus out of Umno is left to be seen.
But I heard that 200 branches in Johore are going to disband. Also some in Kedah.
Kak ton,
I beg to differ. Mukhriz has the courage to stay on in Umno and fight his own battle without his dad.
I think many in Umno, especially, Khairy, would be too happy to see him go.
So sorry for those who think he should follow Tun and leave the party. Why should he just because daddy so say.
Shows he is his own man.
Syabas Mukhriz!
i am with puteri on this....he is his own man unlike someone under ketiak FIL.....
syabas Mukhriz....
Someone tipped me off that ..
Raja Petra Kamarudin is a Commoner ..
Q1: How come Raja Kamarudin has TWO GRANDFATHERS ie. Raja Uda and Sultan Musa?
Q2: Why he refused to answer such questions posted in his own site (Malaysia-Today.net)?
A: Sultan Musa is NOT his grandfather! More Here [ http://thexstories.blogspot.com/2008/05/raja-petra-kamarudin-is-commoner-i.html ]
Me too. I think Mukhriz did the right thing in staying on as UMNO member and Member of Parliament.
This way he can work from within the party to effect change.
Let him go all out and win the Youth head post and be the critic in the party that he has promised to be.
My only hope is that he gets the support of Umno members.
Kak
I wasn't too surprised when he said he was going to stay put, his stakes are too high. And I did wonder if maybe this was discussed before hand between father and son, so that the "attacks" on Pak Lah will be from both sides.
Mukhriz has since said that he thinks his dad might be slightly disappointed with his decision, implying that he made up his own mind about it.
It would now be interesting to see if there are any UMNO members who quit en masse, as the MPs have already "pledged their loyalty", willingly or otherwise.
hello hsh emoerorx,
I think you're lost yr way here.
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