JOHOR BAHARU, March 1 – Johor UMNO today expressed disappointment over the resignation of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad from UMNO. Johor UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said it was most unfortunate that Dr Mahathir had decided to leave the party.
He said they come up against all kinds of challenges in a party but they do not usually quit the party. He told this to the reporters here today. Dr Mahathir, 90, had announced yesterday that he was quitting UMNO because he was unhappy and that it was no longer the party it used to be.
He had also left UMNO on May 19, 2008, when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister and rejoined the party after Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak became the prime minister. In KUCHING, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said UMNO would not be divided with Dr Mahathir’s resignation.
“UMNO, which practised democracy, did not prohibit any member from leaving the party or anyone from joining it. It is normal for people to join and leave any party or organisation,” he told reporters after presenting excellence service certificates to 246 staff of agencies under the ministry.
In SADONG JAYA (Sarawak), Wanita UMNO chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said Dr Mahathir, as an experienced political and leader, should know the implications of his action. Nevertheless, she said she ask Tun Mahathir to give priority to unity of the people wherever he is, in UMNO or outside UMNO. She told this to the reporters at a meet-the-people gathering at the Kampung Sungai Buloh longhouse.
In KUANTAN, the Association of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) president Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Rahman also said that Dr Mahathir’s action was not something extraordinary but his decision was most disappointing, especially for a statesman like him.
He said it is not the best solution to any problem. As a former leader of the party, he said Dr Mahathir should have used a better way to address the issue. Meanwhile, UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsuddin said Dr Mahathir’s quitting UMNO would not jeopardise the party.
