Bera Umno division head Ismail Sabri Yaakob has urged former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to “rehabilitate” Umno and stop attacking the party leadership.

Ismail Sabri, who is also youth and sports minister, said Mahathir’s ceaseless attack on Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would aggravate divisions within the party.

ismail sabri yaakob "Mahathir should play a role in assisting to rehabilitate Umno, help the Umno president instead of making criticisms and asking Abdullah to step down as Umno president and prime minister.

“Tun (Dr Mahathir) should not criticise on the candidacy for the president's post, the quota system, bonus votes and criticising the (Umno) supreme council. The quota system, for example, started since the time Tun was Umno president," he was reported as saying by Bernama.

Ismail Sabri said it was unnecessary for Mahathir to criticise Abdullah because the party president would be accountable for his performance during the upcoming party polls.

‘Detroying party’

Mahathir, who has been on a warpath against Abdullah since 2006, stepped up his criticism on his handpicked successor for nepotism and incompetence following Barisan Nasional’s dismal electoral performance on March 8.

The former premier had also called for the scrapping of the 40 percent quota to contest top party post. At present, a candidate vying for a top party post requires support from 40 percent of Umno’s 192 divisions.

Ironically, the quota system was instituted during Mahathir’s 20-year reign as Umno president.

Ismail Sabri’s views echo that of Umno supreme council member Nazri Abdul Aziz expressed yesterday.

Nazri told New Straits Times that Mahathir’s tactics were dividing the party at a time where opposition parties are solidifying their electoral pacts.

"If he loves Umno, he must stop these actions that can destroy the party,” he said.