Friday 29 Mar 2024
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KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 2): Prime Minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad ruled out the possibility of merging Umno and the party he founded.

He said Umno members can leave the party, and apply to Bersatu, but the latter will only decide on whether to accept these applications after some background checks.

"No (merger), we are talking about principle, not names. The name may still be Umno, but what these people [are] doing [is] not what the initial Umno was meant for. Stealing money, being charged in court, how we can accept them," he told Sin Chew Daily in an interview on New Year's Eve.

Dr Mahathir also said it was former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who had destroyed Umno instead of him.

"It was not me who destroyed Umno, it was Najib," he said.

Dr Mahathir said if it was him that destroyed Umno, the party would have performed well after he relinquished his position as President.

"But in the 2004 and 2008 (General Elections), the falling trend (of support) started, it wasn't me, it was during Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's time," he said.

Dr Mahathir said when he stepped down as Prime Minister the first time, he ensured that the financial situation at Umno and the government remained intact before handing over to Abdullah.

"That was the time I decided to step down, I did not tell anybody, I made the evaluation myself (on when to step down). I thought the whole model was there and my successor can continue or make some changes. I have devoted 20 years to Umno, and I have given it resilient public support," he said.

Dr Mahathir as Umno's former leader, seeing the party come to its situation today, he feels very sad.

"I am very sad, this is the party that won us Independence, defeated Malayan Union, and has been able to implement its policies well for many years, but after I stepped down, my successors have not adhered to Umno's purposes," he said.

"They only think of protecting their own position and power, helping themselves and their family to steal money, so while the name is still Umno, what it does was not what it meant to fight for," he added.

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