Mukhriz: We're trying to save the burning house that's Umno

Former Kedah menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir has likened Umno’s current predicament to a burning house.

Responding to remarks made by certain leaders from Umno who have reminded the party’s rebels of the proverb ‘marahkan nyamuk kelambu dibakar’ (angry at mosquitoes but burn the mosquito net), Mukhriz however said the net had already been burnt.

“We don't care about the mosquitoes anymore, we just want to save the house that is burning,” said Mukhriz at a programme organised by Gabungan Ketua Cawangan Malaysia’s (GKCM) Johor chapter in Johor Baharu today.

Malays, he cautioned, have come to a stage where they are willing to reject Umno.

“In certain places in Kedah, regarded as Umno’s strongholds, this time the people there themselves say it is not certain that Umno will win.”

Asked from a member of the audience whether Umno members should therefore vote for Umno or otherwise, Mukhriz however said Umno is still the focus.

“My blood runs deep for Umno; I won't leave the party, but if I get expelled, that's a different story,” he said.

And even though he no longer holds his previous post in the party, Mukhriz said he will still do all he can to ensure that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak resigns from his posts.

“Now is not the right time to discuss our other options. I have not given up on Najib resigning as the party’s president,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mukhriz said he is worried that Umno will face the same predicament as the Indian National Congress.

“They won many seats in the 2009 general election – about 400 seats and then the next term they only won 40 plus seats in Parliament.

“What that had occurred in the five years while in power were- corruption, abuse of power and the implementation of the goods and services tax (GST) .

“Will that be Umno’s fate in the next general election?” he queried.

Umno, he stressed, should not be sacrificed for one particular person.

“Let that one person sacrifice so that all of us can continue fighting for our race and religion,” he said.

Citizen's Declaration

Responding on the Citizens’ Declaration, Mukhriz said the signatures will be collected and will be presented to the Council of Rulers.

“The Council of Rulers have responded when there were complaints by the rakyat about 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), for example.

“If we can collect many (signatures), I think the Council of Rulers cannot reject the rakyat’s complaints and will therefore take action as how we hope,” he said.

Mukhriz’s father, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, spearheaded the campaign which demands Najib’s resignation as premier.

Apart from Mahathir, the declaration was signed by leaders from both the Opposition as well as civil society.

In the event in Johor Baharu today, Mukhriz’s arrival at 6pm was welcomed with the beating of kompang.

The event saw some 150 people with many from the GKCM group. Locals took the opportunity to take photographs and shake hands with the Umno leader. -Mkini