Grassroots behind me, insists Muhkriz

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

Losing Umno Youth chief candidate Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said the result of the contest did not reflect the wishes of grassroots members.

The son of former president Tun Dr Mahahir Mohamad had lost out in what was seen as a proxy battle between two past leaders when outgoing president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin triumphed in the bitterly fought three-way battle.

Commenting on his last-place finish, Mukhriz insisted that he had come into the contest with the majority of Youth members backing his leadership.

"I have the support of the grassroots. But their wishes did not translate into votes from the delegates," he said.

The Jerlun MP, however, refused to "speculate" on how Khairy had won, when quizzed over alleged graft in the election.

After the results were announced last night, supporters of Mukhriz and Khairy clashed after the former accused the latter of corruption and cheating.

Mukhriz explained that the supporters he had brought with him were those wearing black T-shirts with his slogan and they were disciplined.

Those who had caused trouble were supporters who had come on their own.

When asked about Abdullah's opening address, where he asked Umno not to turn back to old ways, Mukhriz quipped that it sounded like "self-criticism".

"If you mean that small voices of dissent like mine are no longer encouraged, then it could be bad. But decisive leadership, especially with economic matters, that is fine," he said.

On his future with the party, he said he was a loyal party man and would be more than willing to help newly elected president Datuk Seri Najib Razak in whatever capacity.