Mukhriz Will Know His Fate After Umno Youth Exco Meeting, Says Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, March 15 (Bernama) -- Action against Umno Youth exco member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir for asking Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down to assume full responsibility for Barisan Nasional's (BN) dismal showing in the March 8 general will be decided at the movement's executive committee meeting to be held soon.

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said action would be taken against the newly-elected Jerlun member of parliament in accordance with the party rules.

"I will not run away from my entrusted responsibilities as long as I am the Umno Youth head. I will shoulder the trust and confidence placed in me with full commitment to the movement.

"I consider Mukhriz's action as irresponsible. Umno youth will take appropriate action as provided for under the party rules. We'll wait for the Umno Youth exco meeting to be convened after the announcement on the new cabinet line-up," he told reporters.

The prime minister said yesterday he left it to Umno Youth to take action against Mukhriz for asking him to resign.

Abdullah had said he was leaving it to Hishammudin to take appropriate action against Mukhriz.

Mukhriz, the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had written a letter to Abdullah asking him to assume responsibility for BN's poor performance in the March 8 general election and step down as the prime minister.

Copies of the March 12 letter, which Mukhriz said was his personal letter, was also sent to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad.

However, the contents of the letter were posted in several websites.

Mukhriz had sent the letter a day after he had pledged support for Abdullah.

Hishammuddin said Mukhriz's action clearly contradicted his pledge of support for the party leadership.

The Umno Youth had earlier voiced support for the Abdullah-Najib leadership.

-- BERNAMA