TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he will continue his efforts to “cure” Umno even though he has quit the party.

He claimed the party was now concentrated on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s “struggles, no longer that of Umno”.

“Those not loyal to Abdullah are deemed disloyal to the party,” he said.

The former prime minister and party president was commenting on the barrage of criticism against his political ploy of leaving Umno to force Abdullah from office.

“Some people don’t understand… because you go against the president, that doesn’t mean you are going against the party,” he told Malaysian newsmen here where he is attending the Nikkei Conference.

Dr Mahathir’s resignation was accepted by the Umno supreme council on Wednesday. Only a handful of diehard supporters have heeded his call to quit the party.

On deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s offer to meet him, Dr Mahathir said: “I need to remind him whether he is loyal to the party or loyal to the president.”

He did not think his action would put his son, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, in a difficult position.

“It is difficult because they (the leadership) make it difficult. He (Mukhriz) hasn’t done anything wrong. He just said he doesn’t want the present leader.”

Mukhriz may face disciplinary action for publicly calling on Abdullah to step down.

Article source:

The New Straits Times