Is Dr Mahathir creating anger, hatred and disunity?

“Who is Tun Dr Mahathir who has left Umno and trying to issue orders to Umno people who should be followed?”


Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi lashed out at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whom he described as behaving like the party elections director who decides “the leaders in the Umno party and whom should be removed”.

He said Umno had never needed instructions from leaders who were not in the party.

“He is behaving like the director for the party elections, determining so and so should hold such a position ... this person should hold this position, which needs to be in the party, who needs to be removed. What right has he to do this?” he said at a press conference at Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

“Actually he wants to create changes, anger and hatred. Is it really wrong for people to work with me? Should those people who don’t speak and don’t make noise be considered as bad people...people who have never done good for Umno and the government?

“Who is he to make such decisions? This will create hatred among Umno members, teaching Umno members to quarrel among themselves,” he said.

“Because of the contests which normally happen especially at the top level, there will be splits. We should learn from what had happened in the past."

“Such talks will raise anger among those who are considered unacceptable, (those who) must be sidelined. I consider what Tun had done had actually led to quarrels within Umno,” he said.

“Is this the reform that we want...We have freedom, every Umno member has the freedom to contest.”

“I hear that there was an attempt by someone to ask Ali Rustam (Malacca Chief Minister), who wants to contest the deputy president’s post, to withdraw ... why ask Ali to withdraw? What is bad about Ali?

“Let him contest and let Umno people decide whether they want Ali or otherwise. It’s better for Tun not to speak at all today,” he said.