Mokhzani quits Umno (updated)

By SIRA HABIBU (THE STAR ONLINE)

ALOR STAR: Former Kedah Umno treasurer Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir and former Kota Setar MP Dr Abdul Hadi Derani are among Umno members who have quit the party.

Mokhzani said he hoped Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would step down as the party president before more Umno members leave the party in protest.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who quit the party on Monday had called on other members to follow suit to show their vote of no confidence in Abdullah’s leadership.

Mokhzani, a member of the Sungai Layar Hujung Umno branch for 22 years, submitted his letter of resignation to the Merbok division on Tuesday while Dr Abdul Hadi submitted his resignation letter to the Pokok Sena division, also on the same day.

Mokhzani said mass resignation has created a ripple in Umno.

“A tsunami starts with a ripple.

“I do not see how the crisis could be resolved by the present leadership. We need a new leader,” said Mokhzani when contacted Wednesday.

Some 300-odd members of Umno Jalan Badlishah branch in Merbok were among the first to quit en masse followed by another 156 members from Sri Tanjung branch in Pokok Sena and about 2,000 members in Gombak.

It is learnt about 2,000 more from five branches in Pokok Sena namely Langgar, Limbong, Tasak, Taman Teratai and Kampung Bersatu would be submitting their resignation letters in stages within the next few days.

Mokhzani said a leadership change in Umno must happen quickly before more members quit.

“The Opposition is aggressively wooing those who have quit Umno,” he said.

Kedah Umno liaison committee chairman Mahdzir Khalid had in early 2006 dismissed Mokhzani as state party treasurer.

Asked if he would rejoin Umno if Abdullah steps down, Mokhzani said “Insya Allah (God willing)”.

“For the time being I prefer to be with the larger group of Malaysians who are not aligned to any political parties,” he said.

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.