PUTRAJAYA, JUNE 18- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is fully supportive of a “no-contest” proposal for Umno’s president and deputy president posts at the Umno elections slated for November.
He said he feared that a contest for the posts of president and deputy president, held by Najib Tun Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin respectively, would split Umno and the Malays even more.
“Going by the democratic practice, we should have contests but Malaysians do not really understand the practice.
“If they lose, they will quit the party and set up another, causing the Malays and Umno to split further, “ he said.
Mahathir, who was speaking to reporters after launching the 125-page ‘Prisoners Diaries’ which describes the experiences of Palestinians in Israeli prisons, said that while he supported contests within Umno, in the current scenario it was not advisable.
“In this connection, I support contests, but not for the two top posts of president and deputy president.
“I have contested before (for the post of Umno president) and I have won by only 43 votes. The loser took me to court and set up another party.
“The Malays have (now) split due to the contests,” he told a news conference here.
Mahathir was alluding to the 1988 court declaration that the party was “illegal” following a lengthy legal battle between his and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s factions. Razaleigh had in the 1987 party polls lost to Mahathir by 43 votes and his supporters alleging electoral fraud.
The court decision led Razaleigh to set-up a splinter party Semangat ’46 and Mahathir to form ‘Umno Baru’.
Najib-Muhyiddin ‘good’ pair
Meanwhile Bernama reported that the Federal Territory Umno has also backed the “no-contest” call for the top two posts.
Liaison secretary Syed Ali Alhabsee said Najib and Muhyiddin were good pairing for Umno as they had been involved in politics for a long time.
“Why should the posts be contested when (Datuk Seri) Najib and (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin managed to increase Umno seats from 79 to 89. This is because of the Malays confidence in Umno,” he told reporters in Cheras, here today.
Syed Ali, who is also Cheras Umno division chief, said as a democratic party, Umno would not stop party members from contesting the two top posts.
But added that “those planning to contest should look into the mirror.”
“Don’t follow your desires and emotions,” he said.
