Mokhzani ends 22-year ties with Umno

ALOR STAR: Former Kedah Umno treasurer Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir and former Kota Setar MP Dr Abdul Hadi Derani have joined the list of party members who have quit Umno.

Wednesday night, two more joined the list.

They were Lubuk Kawah Umno branch chairman Anuar Zainon and Sik Pemuda Umno division vice-chief Abdul Razak Bahari. Lubuk Kawah is under the Kubang Pasu division.

“My apologies to fellow comrades in the party,’’ said Anuar, who is also a Kubang Pasu division committee member.

Abdul Razak said, “I will only rejoin Umno after Abdullah steps down. PAS members have started wooing me. But I am not going to join other parties as my heart is still with Umno.’’

Father’s lead: File picture showing (from left) Mokhzani, Dr Mahathir and Mukhriz at aHari Raya open house in 2006.

Mokhzani, who is the second son of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad whose former constituency was Kubang Pasu and who quit the party on Monday, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi should step down as the party president before more Umno members resigned.

A member of the Sungai Layar Hujung Umno branch for 22 years, Mokhzani submitted his resignation letter to the Merbok division.

Meanwhile, Dr Abdul Hadi submitted his letter to the Pokok Sena division on Tuesday.

“I do not see how the crisis can be resolved by the present leadership. We need a new leader,” Mokhzani said.

Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid dismissed Mokhzani as state party treasurer in 2006.

In his website www.chedet.com, Dr Mahathir called on Barisan MPs to hop out of the coalition, adding the former BN representatives would be free to state their stand on both government and opposition policies (if they become independent MPs).

“The Abdullah administration will fall if a sufficient number of MPs leave Barisan, thereby depriving the ruling coalition of even its simple majority in Parliament.”

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