PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has never sought to ban Umno as claimed by Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, according to the ex-Prime Minister's aide.
The aide stated that Dr Mahathir only advised Ahmad Zahid to dissolve the party as it no longer represented the Malays, its leaders were corrupt, and it failed to fight for race, religion, and country, which were its founding principles.
"If Dr Mahathir wanted to ban Umno, he could have directed the Home Minister to do so immediately, but the party was functional during the two years Dr Mahathir was in power," the office said in a statement on Wednesday (Aug 21).
This response came in light of media reports seeking clarification on Ahmad Zahid's statement.
"The proposed dissolution was left on Zahid's shoulders and the Umno leadership if they realised that the party had deviated from its struggles and was no longer fit to use the name Umno.
"The existence of the party named Umno proves that it was never banned," the statement added.
