ID :
52741
Sun, 03/29/2009 - 06:51
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/52741
The shortlink copeid
MAHATHIR TO REJOIN UMNO
KUALA LUMPUR, March 28 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister and former Umno president Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Saturday he would rejoin United Malays National Organization (Umno).
He said he would announce the date of his return to the party at a suitable
time "after (sorting out) several matters".
"I have to fill up a form. It takes some time. I will let you know later. I
am waiting for certain events," he told reporters after attending the Umno
General Assembly 2008 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here as an
observer.
On May 19 last year, at a "ceramah" (talk) in Alor Star, northern state
Kedah in Peninsular Malaysia, Dr Mahathir announced his withdrawal from Umno,
saying he had lost confidence in the party.
Dr Mahathir, accompanied by his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, was seen
entering the Dewan Merdeka venue of the Umno meeting at 12.30pm when Umno deputy
president Muhyiddin Yassin was delivering his winding-up speech.
Both of them were given a rousing welcome by the delegates who stood up to
show their appreciation.
Dr Mahathir was seen nodding, as though in agreement, when Muhyiddin
expressed the hope of seeing the former prime minister rejoin Umno.
Muhyiddin said Dr Mahathir's presence more or less reflected his recognition
of the new Umno leadership line-up, a statement to which the delegates responded
with claps.
At the end of the assembly, Dr Mahathir went down to the main stage and
exchanged greetings with Prime Minister DAbdullah Ahmad Badawi and the
Umno Supreme Council members and then he, Abdullah, Najib Tun Razak
and Muhyiddin together held up their hands.
Asked why he decided to attend the assembly after having decided against
doing so earlier, Dr Mahathir said Muhyiddin's election as the deputy president
gave him the confidence that the anticipated changes in Umno would take place
after all.
"I think there is hope for the future," he said.
Dr Mahathir had stated earlier in his blogsite, CheDet.com, that he would
not attend the assembly as he felt that Umno Youth had openly condoned money
politics.
Dr Mahathir said Umno should fight for the people and not for certain group
of individuals if it wants regain the support of the people.
"Without the people, Umno cannot win. Umno's consolidation process depends
very much on where the party is heading, whether it truly fights for the people
or for certain group of people," he said.
Dr Mahathir also agreed to the suggestion that the party do away with the
nomination quota which determines the eligibility of members to contest for
party posts.
But the most important, he said, was for the party to eliminate money
politics because "even if we change the system ten times, if money politics is
still being practised, then Umno will be destroyed," he said.
Asked on the power transition from Prime Minister Adullah Ahmad
Badawi to Najib, Dr Mahathir said, "The succession is from the Umno president
(to his deputy) and I hope another transition from the prime minister will
happen."
Denying that he would be appointed a government adviser, he said, "If you
ask for my advice, why not. Just like Pak Lah, he says he can give his advice, I
also can give mine."
On the Umno line-up, Dr Mahathir said, "There are still certain things which
I am not happy with."
Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein described Dr Mahathir's
presence as the openess in Umno which did not exist in the opposition.
"I am overwhelmed because his presence would hasten our effort to close
ranks. This differentiate us and as vice-president I will help shoulder the
responsibility entrusted to us to rebuild the party," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir's third son, Mukhriz, hoped that his father
would return to Umno as soon as possible.
"This is what we have been waiting for. My father has actually promised that
on the day Najib takes over party presidency, he will submit his
membership application form.
"This (Najib's presidency) has now become a reality and we are delighted at
this new development. However, I've never influenced my father to make the
decision," Mukhriz told reporters at the conclusion of the Umno General Assembly
Saturday.
He said he would announce the date of his return to the party at a suitable
time "after (sorting out) several matters".
"I have to fill up a form. It takes some time. I will let you know later. I
am waiting for certain events," he told reporters after attending the Umno
General Assembly 2008 at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here as an
observer.
On May 19 last year, at a "ceramah" (talk) in Alor Star, northern state
Kedah in Peninsular Malaysia, Dr Mahathir announced his withdrawal from Umno,
saying he had lost confidence in the party.
Dr Mahathir, accompanied by his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, was seen
entering the Dewan Merdeka venue of the Umno meeting at 12.30pm when Umno deputy
president Muhyiddin Yassin was delivering his winding-up speech.
Both of them were given a rousing welcome by the delegates who stood up to
show their appreciation.
Dr Mahathir was seen nodding, as though in agreement, when Muhyiddin
expressed the hope of seeing the former prime minister rejoin Umno.
Muhyiddin said Dr Mahathir's presence more or less reflected his recognition
of the new Umno leadership line-up, a statement to which the delegates responded
with claps.
At the end of the assembly, Dr Mahathir went down to the main stage and
exchanged greetings with Prime Minister DAbdullah Ahmad Badawi and the
Umno Supreme Council members and then he, Abdullah, Najib Tun Razak
and Muhyiddin together held up their hands.
Asked why he decided to attend the assembly after having decided against
doing so earlier, Dr Mahathir said Muhyiddin's election as the deputy president
gave him the confidence that the anticipated changes in Umno would take place
after all.
"I think there is hope for the future," he said.
Dr Mahathir had stated earlier in his blogsite, CheDet.com, that he would
not attend the assembly as he felt that Umno Youth had openly condoned money
politics.
Dr Mahathir said Umno should fight for the people and not for certain group
of individuals if it wants regain the support of the people.
"Without the people, Umno cannot win. Umno's consolidation process depends
very much on where the party is heading, whether it truly fights for the people
or for certain group of people," he said.
Dr Mahathir also agreed to the suggestion that the party do away with the
nomination quota which determines the eligibility of members to contest for
party posts.
But the most important, he said, was for the party to eliminate money
politics because "even if we change the system ten times, if money politics is
still being practised, then Umno will be destroyed," he said.
Asked on the power transition from Prime Minister Adullah Ahmad
Badawi to Najib, Dr Mahathir said, "The succession is from the Umno president
(to his deputy) and I hope another transition from the prime minister will
happen."
Denying that he would be appointed a government adviser, he said, "If you
ask for my advice, why not. Just like Pak Lah, he says he can give his advice, I
also can give mine."
On the Umno line-up, Dr Mahathir said, "There are still certain things which
I am not happy with."
Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein described Dr Mahathir's
presence as the openess in Umno which did not exist in the opposition.
"I am overwhelmed because his presence would hasten our effort to close
ranks. This differentiate us and as vice-president I will help shoulder the
responsibility entrusted to us to rebuild the party," he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir's third son, Mukhriz, hoped that his father
would return to Umno as soon as possible.
"This is what we have been waiting for. My father has actually promised that
on the day Najib takes over party presidency, he will submit his
membership application form.
"This (Najib's presidency) has now become a reality and we are delighted at
this new development. However, I've never influenced my father to make the
decision," Mukhriz told reporters at the conclusion of the Umno General Assembly
Saturday.
