Dr M quits Umno for second time
PUTRAJAYA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday announced that he has again left Umno.
Dr Mahathir, 90, who was also a former Umno president, made the announcement at a media conference at his of fice, the Perdana Leadership Foundation, here.
Dr Mahathir, had previously left Umno on May 19, 2008 as he was reported to have lost confi dence in the leadership of the then prime minister and Umno president Datuk Seri (now Tun) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Dr Mahathir rejoined Umno on April 4, 2009 when Datuk Seri Najib Razak assumed the national and party leadership.
Dr Mahathir had also been expelled from Umno on Sept 26, 1969 for disciplinary reasons during the administration of Tunku Abdul Rahman and returned to the Umno fold on March 7, 1972 during the era of Tun Abdul Razak.
At the press conference, Dr Mahathir said his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali would also leave Umno, repeating the same scenario in 2008. “But I cannot speak for my son (former Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir), he said.
Dr Mahathir said his decision to leave Umno was because he was not happy with the party. To a question if he was planning to set up a new party, he said: “I am not setting up a new party although there has been request that we should found a new party. I dislike founding new party because it will result in more split.”
Asked if he would be joining another party, Dr Mahathir r epl ie d he wou ld not . — Bernama