Umno weakest under Najib, says Mukhriz

A defiant Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir clenches his fist as he walks out of his office in Alor Setar, following his resignation today. Mukhriz hits out at Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak and warns the party will remain weak under his leadership. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, February 3, 2016.

Umno will be at its weakest point as long as Datuk Seri Najib Razak continues to helm the party, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir said today.

Echoing the views of his father Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Mukhriz who resigned as Kedah menteri besar today told reporters in Alor Setar that the recent scandals had overwhelmed the party.

"I'm sorry to say, as long as Najib is still there, Umno will be at its weakest point right now.

"Scandal after scandal, we can't take it all. It's too much for us. This is traumatising all of us. We can't hold our heads high when we go overseas anymore," Mukhriz said after announcing his resignation.

He said people were gagged from speaking out, and pointed to the Umno general assembly last year, where Najib was the sole party leader allowed to speak at the closing ceremony.

In a break from tradition, deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was critical of Najib, had been barred from officiating the opening of the wings' assemblies last year.

"This childishness was also evident in (Najib's) opening speech where the VIPs present, including Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the deputy president, were not acknowledged.

"They were blocked to that extent... This is the state of our party," said Mukhriz.

Mukhriz resigned as Kedah menteri besar after losing the majority support of the state assemblymen, following two weeks of political uncertainty in the state.

The tussle over the menteri besar post began on January 20, when Kedah Umno liaison deputy chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah led a press conference comprising division and wings leaders, to declare their loss of confidence in Mukhriz's leadership.

Bashah will be sworn in as menteri besar tomorrow.

- TMI