KELANA JAYA: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today issued a stern warning that Umno would lose the next general election if it fails to reform and that he had no confidence in most of Umno leaders to lead the country.
Mahathir said Umno leaders missed the opportunity to reform the party in the latest turn of events ahead of the Umno general assembly next week.
"It could have cleaned Umno and shown the public that Umno is serious about getting rid of corruption but unfortunately they botched the opportunity.
"If they (Umno leaders) show seriousness in wanting to clean up, there is a future for Umno. If not they are going to lose the next (general) election," Mahathir said, adding it was "likely" to happen.
The Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition took a major thrashing during the 12th general election in March last year, after it lost control of five states and its two-thirds parliamentary majority.
This week, the keenly-watched Umno party elections took an unexpected turn when the party’s disciplinary board on Tuesday barred Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam from contesting the deputy presidency after three of his aides were found guilty of money politics.
Mohd Ali’s disqualification was the most severe action meted out to the 15 candidates found guilty of money politics, resulting in intense speculations of political conspiracies and increased infighting among factions within Umno.
Mahathir added that if the party’s supreme council accepted Mohd Ali’s appeal of the disciplinary board’s decision, the public would lose confidence in both Umno and its disciplinary board.
Speaking after the opening of his alma mater Sultan Abdul Hamid Omar College Association's building here, Mahathir said the developments in Umno were significant as it came during an urgent time for the Malay community.
"(The Malays) are in very critical state and they are worried about the future and this general assembly is to remind the Malays about their position and the need to get rid of practices that could destroy the Malays," Mahathir said.
On whether Malays were united, Mahathir said despite them not being united for the past 51 years, there had been no problems governing the country.
The former prime minister of 22 years also criticised Pas President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang’s suggestion that a Pas-BN national unity government be formed.
"I don’t see Umno and Pas working together to bring about something that benefits the country," he said.
Mahathir, who quit Umno in 2008, said he would consider re-joining the party on the condition that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi step down from office.
Since Mahathir vacated the premiership in 2004, he had been a fierce critic of his hand-picked successor Abdullah and has since threatened to oust incoming prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak if corrupt leaders were appointed to the new administration.
Mahathir said he had been invited to the Umno general assembly as an observer, since he had quit the party, but had yet to decide if he would attend.
Mahathir said Umno leaders missed the opportunity to reform the party in the latest turn of events ahead of the Umno general assembly next week.
"It could have cleaned Umno and shown the public that Umno is serious about getting rid of corruption but unfortunately they botched the opportunity.
"If they (Umno leaders) show seriousness in wanting to clean up, there is a future for Umno. If not they are going to lose the next (general) election," Mahathir said, adding it was "likely" to happen.
The Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition took a major thrashing during the 12th general election in March last year, after it lost control of five states and its two-thirds parliamentary majority.
Mahathir arrives for an event at his alma mater. Photo by Chua Sue-Ann
This week, the keenly-watched Umno party elections took an unexpected turn when the party’s disciplinary board on Tuesday barred Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam from contesting the deputy presidency after three of his aides were found guilty of money politics.
Mohd Ali’s disqualification was the most severe action meted out to the 15 candidates found guilty of money politics, resulting in intense speculations of political conspiracies and increased infighting among factions within Umno.
Mahathir added that if the party’s supreme council accepted Mohd Ali’s appeal of the disciplinary board’s decision, the public would lose confidence in both Umno and its disciplinary board.
Speaking after the opening of his alma mater Sultan Abdul Hamid Omar College Association's building here, Mahathir said the developments in Umno were significant as it came during an urgent time for the Malay community.
"(The Malays) are in very critical state and they are worried about the future and this general assembly is to remind the Malays about their position and the need to get rid of practices that could destroy the Malays," Mahathir said.
On whether Malays were united, Mahathir said despite them not being united for the past 51 years, there had been no problems governing the country.
The former prime minister of 22 years also criticised Pas President Datuk Seri Hadi Awang’s suggestion that a Pas-BN national unity government be formed.
"I don’t see Umno and Pas working together to bring about something that benefits the country," he said.
Mahathir, who quit Umno in 2008, said he would consider re-joining the party on the condition that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi step down from office.
Since Mahathir vacated the premiership in 2004, he had been a fierce critic of his hand-picked successor Abdullah and has since threatened to oust incoming prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak if corrupt leaders were appointed to the new administration.
Mahathir said he had been invited to the Umno general assembly as an observer, since he had quit the party, but had yet to decide if he would attend.
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