Even with Umno leaders willing to risk their lives, Dr M unimpressed

Leaders like Dr Muhamad Akmal Salleh have stressed that Umno remains committed to its founding principles and he is one of those willing to sacrifice his life for this.

However, the party’s longest-serving president turned staunchest critic, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, remains unimpressed or unconvinced.

In the wake of Umno celebrating its win in the Mahkota polls, the 99-year-old politician rained on their parade, claiming that financial gains have replaced the original objectives and, true to character, raised the alarm about the future of the “Malay-owned land”.

Turning back the clock to the pre-independence era, Mahathir said Umno was formed to oppose the British’s Malayan Union proposal, “which sought to eradicate Tanah Melayu as the land owned by the Malays”.

“It never crossed the minds of members and leaders then to ‘cari makan’ (earn) by joining Umno. They fought for race, religion, and nation. For this, they were willing to sacrifice anything.

“But now Umno’s struggle has changed. The struggle of its members and leaders is to obtain rewards.

“It does not matter even if this heritage land is no longer owned by the Malays as long as Umno members receive RM30,800 a month as elected representatives,” he added.

All about money

With financial rewards as their sole motivation, Mahathir claimed that the party he led for more than two decades is prepared to support “enemies and policies contrary to Umno’s stand”.

“This is Umno now. Only the name is Umno but the struggle is no longer for race, country and religion. No reservations in betraying the race as long as money is received,” he added.

Mahathir, who said those who do not wish to turn their backs on their race have left Umno, posed a question to those who remained to reflect upon.

“In the past, Umno won 80-90 seats, now Umno won only 26 (in the last general election). What is the struggle of these 26 elected representatives? Ask yourselves this question,” he added.

Working with foes

Following the political deadlock after the 15th national polls in 2022, Umno entered into an alliance with Pakatan Harapan, led by Mahathir’s arch nemesis Anwar Ibrahim, which included the party it had demonised in the past, DAP.

This coalition of strange bedfellows continues to witness friction between these two parties as they attempt to assuage their respective supporters.

Prior to the 2018 general election, Mahathir himself made a truce with his “enemies” in his quest to remove the then Umno leader Najib Abdul Razak from power.

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