Zaid: Makes no sense if Muhyiddin stays in Umno

There is no reason for suspended Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin to stick with the party, said former Umno minister Zaid Ibrahim.

"Umno is a losing party; for me it makes no sense to stick around in a party that's about to lose. He should join a winning group," Zaid said in an interview with Malaysiakini, Free Malaysia Today and Berita Daily.

Asked if Muhyiddin would have any chance of fighting if he stays in Umno, he said he was not sure.

"For me, Umno has no future. Their future, as it is now – arrest here, arrest there. That's their only lifeline.

"If Umno has a future, it means we have no future," Zaid (photo) added.

Muhyiddin, who was suspended as Umno deputy president last Friday, is expected to announce whether or not he will quit the party tomorrow.

This follows former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's decision to leave the ruling Malay party, to protest Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's leadership.

Zaid, who is planning to hold a gathering against Najib on March 27, is confident that the prime minister can be removed.

"I'm confident that not just Najib, but Umno too (can be toppled) [...] If all of us, meaning the people and political parties, can unite (it can happen)," he said.

He added that he is not calling for Umno to be dissolved, but to be removed from power, especially in the next general election. -Mkini