Muhyiddin: I've invited Dr M back to Umno

Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin said he has invited former party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad to rejoin Umno to help "fix the problems" afflicting the party.

“I persuaded him to rejoin Umno. He is considering it," Muhyiddin told reporters this morning after a closed-door meeting in Kuala Lumpur with the Malaysian Services Development Council.

Muhyiddin is the third-most senior Umno leader after the president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.

Muhyiddin said Mahathir had invited him to his residence last Saturday to express concern over problems besetting Umno, following the party's unprecedented losses in the March 8 general election.

“I have not been in touch with him for a long time… (And) there was an opportunity for me to seek his views on many things, especially political development,” explained Muhyiddin.

“But of course his interest is to see how Umno, in particular in Barisan Nasional (BN), can be reinforced and strengthened in view of the post-general election (results)… and he expressed his concern about the state politics.

“I think he is concerned about what is happening and we assessed that he feels that things are not getting better by him going out (of the pary)."

Muhyiddin said Mahathir is very concerned about recent developments in Umno and BN and public sentiments about all that is happening today.

“So I told him that, in order for him to be able contribute more, maybe he should rethink his position in Umno...he left Umno, so it is better that he reconsiders rejoining Umno,” he said.

“I told him that if he wanted to fix the problems, he should come back."

Muhyiddin said he is waiting for Mahathir's aides to officially submit his membership form to the party.

“He agreed… but he was not so sure (whether) the supreme council will accept his application,” said Muhyiddin, who is also international trade and industry minister.

“I told him, the decision to leave Umno was (by) his own free will, (at the time) the supreme council accepted it. But there was a clause that we would be happy to receive him any time he thinks of coming back."

Asked if his invitation to Mahathir would be well-received by other Umno leaders, especially those who have been at the sharp end of Mahathir's criticism, Muhyiddin was confident this would not be an issue.

“When he left, many let him go with a heavy heart. I am sure they will now welcome him back to the party,” he said.

Mahathir quit the party on May 19 after expressing disgust with Abdullah's leadership. While he said he would return only after Abdullah had been replaced, the premier has since brokered a handover pact to step down in favour of Najib in June 2010.

'No preconditions set'

Muhyiddin further said Mahathir’s decision is a good sign and expressed optimism that matters can be solved amicably.

“(It's a) good thing it is Ramadan now; it is a time to ponder and reinforce your religious and spiritual beliefs,” he noted.

“We feel he is ready to come back to strengthen ties. He could strengthen Umno and bring Malays in particular back to the fold (and) maybe indirectly assist in strengthening Barisan Nasional."

Asked if Mahathir had sought to lay down prerequisites in making his comeback, Muhyiddin said nothing of this nature had been discussed.

“He made no preconditions but it is not my decision whether (or not) to accept him back into the party… however, as the vice-president I sincerely extend my invitation,” said Muhyiddin.

“I respect Tun as an authoritative leader and met him for that reason. My intentions were clear and from that meeting I got good news that he is coming back to Umno.”

Muhyiddin said Najib had been informed about the meeting and of Mahathir's wish to rejoin the party.

“He (Mahathir) has been critical and vocal and I don’t think anyone can stop him from speaking up,” he said when quizzed about Mahathir’s vilification of Abdullah's premiership.

“We are a democracy, so every person has the right to speak… I think it is important for us to recognise some of his views that are good for us and we can’t just him brush aside.

“He has a lot of experience in administration. So when he sees things happening and maybe it's not to his liking and it has an impact on the lives of Malaysians - of course a man of his stature and experience will speak out.

“I think it is good to have person of that sort. Of course, we don’t have to agree every time with what he says but he can speak out. Some people feel (that what he says) is credible.”

Commenting on the ongoing upheaval aroused within BN because of allegedly racist remarks by Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail about the Chinese community, the minister said the issue should be solved in a way that would benefit everyone.

“Let him meet the prime minister I think it is an important for him to seek a decision and the views (of others)… We would like to see that this matter to resolved in a way that will benefit everybody,” said Muhyiddin.

“(There is) no point in raising matters that would create tension… I think everybody is concerned about the situation. I think that engaging with prime minister (today) should give him some indication on how serious the situation is.

“I think propagating and expanding (the issue) and all the media play just helps create more unnecessary tension."

Ahmad has refused to apologise for his original remarks during the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign. He has since added to this in a 14-page press statement .