Dr M’s resignation from Umno not a surprise – Ismail Sabri
KUCHING: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s decision to quit Umno was not a surprise as most party members saw it coming, according to Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
“It is only a matter of time for Dr Mahathir to leave as we have already anticipated based on the various statements given indicating that he is not synchronised with the party direction,” he said.
“It’s like a person who has long been ‘sick, terminally or in a coma’ and would suddenly pass away. So we already saw this coming and it’s only a matter of time,” he said when describing the life line of Dr Mahathir’s membership.
Ismail Sabri said this at a press conference after the ministry’s Excellent Service Award ceremony which saw 246 recipients from Sarawak representing various agencies and departments being awarded for their achievements and commitment at Pullman Hotel yesterday.
He later pointed out that it was not unusual for leaders or former leaders and even party members to enter and leave an organisation or party, particularly Dr Mahathir who had previously left Umno on May 19, 2008.
“He quit then after losing confidence in the leadership of the then prime minister and Umno president Datuk Seri (now Tun) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and now for disapproving Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” he explained.
Admitting that some Umno members might be a little taken aback by Dr Mahathir’s decision to leave, Ismail Sabri however said the issue would have little impact on the party and the spirit of unity among members.
“Umno is a party that upholds democracy. Most importantly, we must continue with the party’s struggle and the objectives that have been laid out regardless of who is in or out,” he pointed out.
From the very beginning, he said, many past leaders had made similar move including the first Umno president Tun Hussein Onn but despite all that Umno remained strong and continued to lead the country until today.
In urging party members not to be affected or easily influenced by the issue, Ismail Sabri was confident that the spirit and faith of three million Umno members would not be easily weakened.
“Well, let’s leave it to Dr Mahathir’s wisdom to decide his course of direction as to whether he would start or join another party,” he concluded.