Dr M tells Umno to ‘fix itself’ before polls
(The Malaysian Insider) – Umno is now weak because of corrupt leaders who no longer fight for Malays and Islam, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed said today, in a repeat of his complaint about the party he formed in 1988.
The former Umno president warned the Malay party that Barisan Nasional (BN) would suffer a defeat similar to Election 2008 if the party did not rid itself of corruption and nepotism.
“Things will get worse. I am against elections mired with corruption; [I am] disgusted with Umno members like this. People will reject this kind of candidates.
“Umno has to fix itself, or else people will reject the party,” he told reporters today, repeating a criticism he once hurled at successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when quitting the party in 2007.
Abdullah stepped down in early 2009 in favour of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who then welcomed back Dr Mahathir to Umno.
Umno was originally founded on May 11, 1946 but was declared illegal in 1988 after a party polls dispute uncovered illegal branches had been set up. Dr Mahathir then formed Umno Baru to take over the old party’s assets and most of its members.
Today, the veteran politician said the reason Malaysians chose “dirtier” parties like PKR was because they felt that Umno leaders had strayed from the party’s original purpose — to fight for the rights of the Malays and to uphold Islam.
“It’s sad to know that even Umno members voted for other parties in the last elections… they feel that Umno does not fight for its race, country and religion anymore instead they are only fighting for titles and APs for their sons and in-laws,” he said.
This, according to Dr Mahathir, was why Malays remained divided.
He said a strong Umno would ensure that Malays were as united as before independence, when the party was the sole representative for the Malay race.
“All our leaders are now fighting for titles, there is greed and jealousy, [and] this is what separates us.
“We do not want an Umno which fights for riches, Malays are now depending on others for support,” he said.
