Mukhriz Mahathir told the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak did not encourage him to contest for the post of Umno vice-president in 2013.

Responding to a question from lawyer Jahabardeen Mohd Yunos, who is representing the prime minister's press aide Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad, Mukhriz said Najib wanted the existing vice-presidents to remain in their respective posts.

"However, I decided to contest as I felt it was not good for Umno, as a democratic party, to do so since at the time the president and deputy president posts were already uncontested,” he said.

Mukhriz was testifying at the hearing of his defamation suit against Tengku Sariffuddin.

To another question from Jahabardeen, Mukhriz, who is now deputy president of Parti Pribumi Malaysia Bersatu (Bersatu), said the criticisms against Najib at the time were aimed at saving Umno and BN.

“We had proposed that the PM leaves and another BN representative takes over.

“There is no suggestion of trying to topple the government or, like the words stated in the (alleged defamatory press statement by Tengku Sarifuddin), that my father Dr Mahathir Mohamad wanted me as PM. It does not relate at all,” he added.

During re-examination by his counsel Haniff Khatri Abdulla, Mukhriz said he had informed his father, who is now Bersatu chairperson, when he contested for the Umno vice-president's post.

Mukhriz said when he joined Umno in 2000, Mahathir did not encourage him to be active in politics.

“I only became active in 2004 after my father retired (as prime minister and Umno president) in 2003, to contest for a Youth exco post.

“I got involved in politics as it is a service to the people. This character is prevalent in my father and mother...,” he added.

'No plot to topple Najib'

Mukhriz also told the court that there is no alleged plot to topple Najib, as claimed by the defendant.

“There is no plot involving myself as claimed by the defendant. I know my father. I have never seen him do this. He held the PM's post for 22 years and if he wanted to do so he had that wide opportunity to do so.

“It is illogical that after 13 to 14 years (after retiring as Umno president and PM) that he wanted to do this (put Mukhriz as PM). It is inconsistent with his actions,” he said.

Furthermore, Mukhriz said, if his father had influence in Umno in 2013, he would have campaigned for him but he (Mahathir) did not.

“I only contested for an Umno post in 2004, as an Umno Youth exco member, a year after my father retired as party president and PM.”

The Bersatu deputy president also said that when he was Kedah Umno deputy liason chief, he was entrusted by Najib and Muhyiddin to lead the party machinery during the 13th general election.

At that time, Mukhriz said, he was only a deputy minister of international trade and industry, while Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (the present Kedah MB) was the state Umno liason chief.

“I had then asked Najib whether is it right for me to lead the party machinery when Ahmad Bashah is the state Umno liason head. He and Muhyiddin replied that it is all right.

“So I helped the party and at that time Kedah was led by PAS under the late Azizan Abdul Razak, who helmed the state. I told the party leadership that I wanted to contest a state seat and not a parliamentary seat. The seat which I contested, Ayer Panas, was a seat that Umno lost in 2008,” Mukhriz said.

Mukhriz also explained the strategy adopted by Umno in winning back Kedah when, two days before the general election, he was named as candidate for Kedah MB, while PAS had not named its candidate for the post.

The hearing before Justice Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim continues on Oct 19 and 20, with Mukhriz closing his defamation case today. Tengku Sariffuddin will take the stand on Oct 19.