| Submit your comments on this article |
| Southeast Asia |
| Mahathir rejoins UMNO |
| 2009-04-05 |
| [Straits Times] FORMER Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad rejoined Umno on Saturday, a year after quitting in a huff over the way his successor was running the government. He returned to the party a day after Datuk Seri Najib Razak took over from Tun Abdullah Badawi as the new Prime Minister. On Saturday, Tun Mahathir handed his application form along with the requisite RM2 (80 Singapore cents) membership fee to Mr Najib, the party president. Dr Mahathir's wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and their son Datuk Mokhzani followed suit. The former premier told reporters he was happy to be back and urged those who had left along with him to return as well. 'The image of Umno has suffered somewhat in the last few years. The first thing to be done is to clean up the image of Umno,' he said. 'I am prepared to help Umno regain the people's trust.' The first test would take place tomorrow, when he goes out to help canvass for votes for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition in two by-elections - in Perak and Kedah - on Tuesday. 'I believe his return will be an encouragement to Umno and will help us to rebuild the party,' Mr Najib said of Dr Mahathir. The latter resigned as prime minister in 2003 after 22 years in power, hand-picking Mr Abdullah as his successor. But within a year, he turned against Mr Abdullah after the new leader overturned many of his pet projects. 'Although I was out of Umno, my heart and soul were in Umno,' Dr Mahathir said. He added there was no need for any formal party or government positions for him and that the criticisms he had hurled at the party were intended to strengthen it, not destroy it. Asked whether he would continue to be just as vocal during Mr Najib's administration, he said : 'I was critical whenever Umno went wrong.' |
| Posted by:Fred |