Mokhzani quits Umno

KUALA LUMPUR: Businessman and former Youth wing treasurer Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir announced Wednesday that he was quitting Umno.

His announcement comes two days after his father Dr Mahathir resigned from the party.

On Tuesday, Umno Youth exco member and Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz, who is also Mokhzani's brother, had announced that he will not quit the party.

He however called on Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to resign.

Mokhzani Mahathir Quits Umno

KUALA LUMPUR, May 21 (Bernama) -- Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir, the second child of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Wednesday announced he is quitting Umno, heeding his father's call to members to leave the party to pressure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down.
When contacted by Bernama, Mokhzani, 47, confirmed that he had decided to leave Umno and had sent his resignation letter to the Merbok Umno division office via fax on Tuesday.
"I decided to quit Umno as I concurred with my father's views that the Umno of today is not the real Umno," said the former Merbok Umno division youth chief who is now more active in the corporate sector.
On Tuesday, Mokhzani's younger brother, Datuk Mukhriz, who is also Jerlun member of parliament, said he would remain in Umno eventhough he agreed with his father that Abdullah should step down as prime minister and Umno president immediately to save Umno.
On Monday, Dr Mahathir, who was Umno president for 22 years between 1981 and 2003 and a life member, announced he was quitting Umno as he had lost confidence in Abdullah's leadership and would only rejoin the party after Abdullah stepped down or was no longer the country's leader.
In SUNGAI PETANI, Merbok Umno division deputy head Datuk Tajul Urus Md Zain, expressing disappointment over Mokhzani's move, said his decision would not have any impact on the division's leadership as he was only an ordinary member of the Sungai Layar Hujung branch.
"He was no longer active after his tenure as division youth chief ended in the last term," he told Bernama.
He said the division received a letter on Mokhzani's intention to quit the party this morning and regarded it as his personal right.
Tajul Urus said another member from the Merbok division, who is also Jalan Badlishah Umno branch chief, Mejar (B) Anuar Abdul Hamid, had also resigned from Umno.
He said Anuar, an appointed committee member of the division, sent his resignation letter Wednesday.
"The division has no problems with their decision to leave Umno as so far none had followed suit," he added.