PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir’s decision to work with Pakatan Harapan is an act of betrayal to Umno and can never be justified, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.
He said Mukhriz, the former Kedah mentri besar, “must be very naïve” not to tell the difference between the implications of working with Umno leaders and of working with Pakatan Harapan leaders.
"If you work with Umno leaders, and if it is with the purpose of changing the party leadership, then this is done during the party election.
"However, if you work with Pakatan leaders, then it is with the purpose of changing the ruling party during the general election,” Salleh said in his blog on Tuesday.
Salleh said that Mukhriz’s action can “only be construed as an act of betrayal” to Umno as the general election is due to take place before the next party election.
"Mukhriz must surely know the consequences of his action,” he said, adding that he had no doubt that Mukhriz was trying to justify his action by raising “all sorts of excuses”.
"Mukhriz should know that the end can never justify the means and no amount of justification can legitimise the transgressions he has committed,” he said.
Earlier this month, Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said a motion to expel Umno leaders involved in the Citizen's Declaration calling for the ouster of the Prime Minister would be tabled at the party’s next supreme council meeting.
Mukhriz was among several political leaders and activists who signed the declaration.
