In Mukhriz, Zaid sees no trace of “Mahathirism”

(MM) - Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir found an unlikely supporter today in one of his father’s more strident critics, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who urged Umno members to give the vice-president hopeful a chance in the coming party polls.

Zaid, a former Umno man himself, said Mukhriz will provide “good balance” to the status quo and even dismissed talk that the latter’s leadership would see a return to the era of “Mahathirism”.

“Naive to think Mukhriz will bring back Mahathirism,” Zaid wrote in a series of postings on his Twitter page this afternoon.

“Mukhriz will provide good balance ; the Champions of the Malays must come from different group. Otherwise plunder will be worse.

“Mukhriz not a smooth talker but he should be given a chance. Being nationalistic not a sin, being corrupt and hypocritical is,” he added.

Mukhriz has thrown his hat in the ring for the Umno vice-presidency, effectively turning the heat on in a crowded race among powerful leaders like incumbents Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal; and aspirants Datuk Seri Ali Rustam and Tan Sri Abdul Isa Samad, both wily old campaigners.

A victory by Mukhriz in the vice-presidency race would put him on the path to mount a challenge for the number two spot in Umno ahead of the 14th general election, which, if successful, could make him Malaysia’s next deputy prime minister.

Political analysts have said that Mukhriz’s bid for ascendancy signalled the desire of Umno’s “old guard” to preserve conservative leanings in the dominant Malay party.

Pro-Mahathir bloggers have begun campaigning for Mukhriz, seeing in him the return to the days where Dr Mahathir ruled with an iron grip and a reversal of policies that purportedly allowed the special position of the Malays to be challenged.

Professor Datuk Mohamad Abu Bakar, political scientist from Universiti Malaya, noted last Thursday that Mukhriz has yet to show that he is a “man of his own”, and that the 48-year-old is seen instead as living in his father’s shadow.

But in an interview on Berita Harian today, Mukhriz dismissed this, saying he does not intend to continue the political dynasty of his father Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad with his entry in the Umno vice-presidency race.

Mukhriz, who is also the Kedah mentri besar, said that he had his own ideas, although he would not negate the good that the former prime minister has done and that he was “excited” to continue what Dr Mahathir has fought for.

“My presence is not to create a dynasty,” Mukhriz said in an interview with the Malay-language daily.

“Coincidentally, I am interested in politics even though my father curbed my interest during the time he was leading the country,” he added.

This year’s Umno polls will see some 146,500 delegates directly elect their top leaders after the party amended its constitution to allow more members to vote, up from the previous 2,500.

Nominations for the Umno supreme council elections will be held on September 28 and voting on October 19.