It is a serious political crisis for UMNO. Unexpectedly, Veteran ex-leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched his strongest ever attack against Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today, and again called for his resignation following disastrous election results."I ask (Abdullah) to resign," the former prime minister, who ruled Malaysia for 22 years, told a gathering of at least 2,000 Umno members.
"Anyone else would have already resigned but (Abdullah) has no shame," Mahathir, who hand-picked Abdullah to succeed him in October 2003, told a cheering crowd.
Abdullah, also president Umno, is facing increasing calls to quit from party leaders.
Mahathir, calling Abdullah “shameless'' for not resigning, needs the party's support to oust the man he picked to succeed him. Public demands for change are mounting in Malaysia as an opposition alliance, buoyed by unprecedented election gains, woos government lawmakers in a bid to topple the coalition.
Former Malaysian Premier Mahathir Mohamad called for an emergency meeting of the nation's biggest political party to oust Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi following the government's worst ever election showing.
"Only when we reject this leadership can we reform the party,” Mahathir, 82, told a 2,000-strong gathering of mainly party members outside Kuala Lumpur today.
"It's OK if once in a while you betray or challenge the leadership. Don't be afraid.''
As reported, Abdullah has no comment, said a spokesman at his office who declined to be identified.
1 comment:
Betray or challenge the UMNO leadership is not the practice of UMNO member. UMNO members are with the Hang Tua spirit, now it seems that Dr Mahathir is asking them to become Hang Jebat by saing that "It's OK if once in a while you betray or challenge the leadership. Don't be afraid." Is the Malay political culture is changing merely to punished the Abdullah? or rather KJ?
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