Umno has no more principles, says Dr Mahathir

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak no longer follows the party's mission. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Abd Halim, February 26, 2016.

Umno is no longer the political party that existed for Malaysia but one that belongs to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as it no longer stands by its principles, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

Ahead of the Umno Supreme Council meeting this evening, the former prime minister said he would not be surprised if party deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was removed since Umno was now "wholly owned" by Najib, the president.

"It is no longer Umno. He (Muhyiddin) will not be removed from Umno but from Najib's party.

"It is vastly different from the principles Umno stood for previously," he told reporters after launching the Ehime Fair in KLCC today.

The party's highest decision-making body meets later today amid speculation that Muhyiddin's removal will be proposed to the council.

Several Umno leaders of late have been calling for Muhyiddin's removal as the party number two following his salvos against Najib and Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, who last month said there was insufficient evidence to press charges against the prime minister over alleged financial scandals. 

Dr Mahathir said Najb's survival was paramount.

"He (Najib) no longer follows the party's mission. He is thinking of himself."

Muhyiddin was removed as deputy prime minister in late July last year after openly questioning Najib over state-owned investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the RM2.6 billion donation deposited into Najib's personal bank accounts.

He remains Umno deputy president but said this was only in name as Najib had been preventing him from performing his duties in the party.

- TMI