Prime Minister’s Press Secretary’s statement on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Mukhriz

1.      Tun Mahathir Mohamed should retire gracefully and allow his son ‎to stand on his own feet politically, especially as Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir now claims to have 80% support within UMNO. For years, Tun Mahathir has tried to push his son to the top of UMNO, but he will never admit it.

2.      Firstly, Tun Mahathir made his son stand for UMNO Vice President. But he was defeated due to a lack of support by party members, and his father blamed the Prime Minister.‎ Then, Dato’ Seri Mukhriz stood as Menteri Besar of Kedah, Tun Mahathir’s home state and power base. But he was removed due to a lack of support by party members, and again his father blamed the Prime Minister. If ‎Dato’ Seri Mukhriz had 80% support within UMNO as he claims, he would be Vice President of UMNO or Menteri Besar of Kedah.

3.      Trying to unseat a serving Prime Minister just to benefit your son is a step too far for UMNO members. And damaging the national interest just to benefit your son, such as Tun Mahathir’s lie that 42 billion was missing from 1MDB, is also a step too far for UMNO.  The Public Accounts Committee’s report proved that Tun Mahathir’s attack on the Prime Minister using 1MDB is like thunder with no lightning.

4.      This is why Tun Mahathir has lost the support of UMNO. Which in turn is why ‎he‎ had ‎to leave UMNO and solicit Chinese support from the opposition through Lim Kit Siang, a man he previously jailed.‎ ‎

5.      All Tun Mahathir needs to do is state who his alternative candidates are as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. How can a man who wants to dictate and decide everything avoid answering this one critical question. Until he does, Tun Mahathir cannot blame the people for believing that his failed attempt to unseat the Prime Minister is all about paving the way for his son. ‎

6.      The Prime Minister will continue to focus on the key issues that matter to Malaysia, especially combating the threat of terrorism, and delivering on his economic plan for the people.‎

DATUK SERI TENGKU SARIFFUDDIN

PRESS SECRETARY TO THE PRIME MINISTER