WORDS OF WARNING FOR NAJIB FROM HIS NOT-SO-LOYAL DPM: NO REASON WHY UMNO WON'T RE-ADMIT DR M, SAYS ZAHID

SABAK BERNAM - Umno would readmit Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad if the former prime minister repents his campaign against the party and Datuk Seri Najib Razak, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today.

The deputy prime minister and acting Umno deputy president said he was dismayed that Dr Mahathir chose to use an opposition platform for his campaign against Umno and Putrajaya, even calling voters to reject both.

“We feel sad that a former Umno president and prime minister is willing enough to go and smear a BN candidate and wanting to defeat BN in the by-elections,” Zahid told reporters during a press conference at the media centre here today.

“(But) if he is sincere and is willing to apply back, why not? Provided he is really with us and not backstabbing us. Leaders in Umno and Umno members are very open-minded people,” he said when asked if Umno's door were now closed to Dr Mahathir.

The Bagan Datoh MP was quick to add, however, Dr Mahathir did not appear interested in rejoining the party that he quit in protest of Najib.

Zahid added that Dr Mahathir was at a “political crossroads” and was at risk of undoing his own legacy with his continued attacks against the party, including claiming today that Malays were following Umno blindly.

“I hope his talk is the same as how it was before. I hope he is not considered as someone past his prime and is willing to say such statements,” Zahid said.

Dr Mahathir officially campaigned for the first time in his career against Umno on an opposition platform, endorsing Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) candidate Azhar Shukur.

The nonagenarian insisted, however, that he remained non-partisan and unaffiliated with the opposition despite calling for voters to back Amanah in order to display their unhappiness with Najib's leadership.

Dr Mahathir has campaigned against BN before, when he had sought to remove Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, but this is the first time he has done so directly on an opposition stage.

He is expected to endorse Amanah’s candidate in Kuala Kangsar tomorrow. - Malay Mail