Mahathir disowned Umno again? No surprises here
YOURSAY | ‘If he is prepared to accept the possible end of Umno, then we should join him.’
Mahathir and wife quit Umno in protest
Ferdtan:
Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad quit the party again? So what? Will the same trick work again? Najib is not like his predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
For Mahathir, to renounce Umno membership is not a big sacrifice as his political career had ended. That is why, for obvious reasons, his son Mukhriz is not keen to leave the party with him immediately.
If Mahathir is serious about getting rid of Najib, which must include the necessary institutional reforms as demanded by all right-thinking citizens and NGOs, then he should come out with a clear statement that he would work with the opposition and all Malaysians who want to see real changes.
The consequence of this may even kill Umno, the party from which he has just quit.
If he is prepared to accept the possible end of Umno, then we should join him. However, at the present moment he is still holding back; he only wants to remove Najib.
Sali Tambap: The pertinent question that would be on most people's lips is what effect is Mahathir's resignation to the nation's political scenario?
I would say it is big, but not big enough to affect changes to the government. History does not lie. No former party leaders of Malay-dominated parties have succeeded in overthrowing their successors.
Rahman Yaakub failed to oust Abdul Taib Mahmud in Sarawak, and similarly, none had succeeded in Umno. The key factor would be the Malays themselves. Many would not want to change the status quo or to get out from their comfort zone.
That is why, no matter how naughty Najib is, he will remain Umno president and PM, simply because no Malay can stomach the alternative. All Najib has to do is to scare the Malays that without Umno, they would have much to lose.
The only way Mahathir's resignation would make a difference is that his faction would work as the 'third force' in Malaysian politics, meaning that now we would have BN, Pakatan Harapan and the Mahathir group.
He would split Umno supporters, that is if he is popular enough, allowing Pakatan to reap the benefit of a split opponent. But Pakatan is in a disarray too, fighting among themselves.
What we can say for now, as an immediate response to Mahathir's resignation from Umno, is that he has finally met his own karma. He now receives equal measures of what he had dished out to others.
Gungadin: Mahathir, as much of what is happening is designed by the atrocities you have done in the 22 years in power, I support you for the stand you have taken.
You probably don't believe in karma, but what we are going through is exactly that. We have a common goal and we should see it to its bitter end.
CQ Muar: This apparently is the climax and a wake-up call to Umno with regard to the country's predicament.
This should no longer be regarded as another storm in a teacup, and should jolt those who are still asleep to take the cue from the resignation of Mahathir and his wife.
Like it or not, Umno's demise is now knocking at its door, and the time must come to determine the future of this country for the good of all, regardless of race, political inclination, religion and our children.
You are left with no choice but to realistically decide where your loyalty stands - the well-being and future of this country or the decaying scenario before us, all due to one man who has wrought the destruction.
How long can you go on with the deception? It's either to stay (in Umno) and suffer the consequence or consolidate with an alternative force to return this country back to sanity. The choice is inevitably yours.
Anonymous 117651438093233: Quit Umno by all means, Mahathir. That’s your right. Ordinary Malaysians are tired of your complaints and moaning.
Take a holiday. The billionaires (including your son Mokhzani) who amassed their wealth during your tenure will be happy to loan you their jets.
Or you may consider visiting your good friend, Robert Mugabe, the President of Zimbabwe, who just celebrated his 92nd birthday at a cost of US$800,000.
P Dev Anand Pillai: For all the mess that he started, poor Mahathir has been reduced to such a state that no one in the current political elite respects or pays heed to him anymore.
He should quit and stay out for good, this time.
Thana55: Kudos to Mahathir for walking the talk. Everyone in Umno must be eternally grateful to Mahathir for all what he did to uplift our Malay brethren.
Sadly, greed and corruption have taken over. Umno is imploding. It’s only a matter of time.
Anonymous_40f4: Najib is not ever going to step down. The stakes are too high for him and his wife, Rosmah Mansor.
If he has to bring down the country, he will do it so as to cling on to power. If push comes to shove, there will be no more general elections.
Najib will invoke the NSC (National Security Council) Act and continue as PM until we see a ‘people uprising’ like in Egypt, Tunisia and the Philippines.
Anonymous_1371479577: Even though a change in leadership is not likely, Dr M's resignation will do more to place the rakyat's agenda on the national stage than previously possible with a fractured opposition.
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