Mukriz backs Tengku Razaleigh's EGM push

JERLUN, Sat: 

MP for Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has the right to offer himself to contest for the post of Umno president, MP for Jerlun Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said today.

Speaking on his personal capacity, the youngest son of the former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad also supported Tengku Razaleigh's move to call for an extraordinary general meeting on May 11 to discuss on BN poor performance in the recent election.

"I respect Tengku Razaleigh's decision to contest for the presidency as it is part of the party's democratic practise,” he said. "This is a positive thing for the party, as now members are entitle to options based on their own opinions, and not just receiving orders from their leaders.”

He was asked by reporters today to comment on Tengku Razaleigh’s move to also offer himself to contest for the Umno presidency. Mukhriz had earlier attended a 'kenduri' in Wisma Jerlun, here to celebrate his winning performance in the recent general election.

Mukhriz's support for Tengku Razaleigh is in contrast to the calls by senior Umno leaders that the Kelantan prince back down from his EGM bid.
Mukhriz cautioned that this was not the time for Umno to take things for granted as the spirit of party members were at the lowest level.

"We are not living in an era where members at the lowest level only waits and takes direction from their leaders. And it is about time for us to listen to the members and for their voices to be heard," he said.

Tengku Razaleigh, who described Umno's March 8 performance as the most painful and horrible moment in his political career, has urged the party to call for an EGM on May 11 to discuss its dismal performance.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said it was unlikely for Tengku Razaleigh to win the Umno presidency as he needed “60 divisions brave enough to back and support him.”

Mukhriz himself had written a letter to Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, appealing to the Prime Minister to take responsibility for Umno's defeats by resigning.

Umno Youth decided that no action was to be taken against Mukhriz although he was heavily criticised.

--NST