The Umno Youth movement today called on the government to stop providing financial assistance for the operations of the Perdana Leadership Foundation that is headed by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Umno Youth deputy chief Khairul Azwan Harun said the assistance provided included the use of government assets and supporting staff under the government's payroll.
At a press conference today, Khairul Azwan claimed the move was necessary because Mahathir was using the foundation as a platform to bring down the government.
"Umno Youth seriously views Tun Mahathir's actions to manipulate the Perdana Leadership Foundation as one of the platforms to bring down the government under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
"We condemn such actions as they go against the Federal Constitution and the country's democratic system," he said.
Asked for details of the assistance provided by the government, Khairul Azwan said he does not have the information but was made to understand the Perdana Leadership Foundation has 22 staff who are on the government's payroll.
"We will leave it to the government to investigate, he added.
According to its official website, Perdana Leadership Foundation is a non-profit organisation that survives solely on private contributions.
Khairul Azwan also reminded Mahathir of his own declaration that the twin by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar on June 18 were a referendum for Najib's leadership.
"Now that the people have spoken, it is time for Mahathir to respect the people's decision.
"The best thing for him to do now is to go and rest, accept the decision with an open heart," he said.
Mahathir had, during the campaign for the by-elections, openly supported Parti Amanah Negara's candidates against Barisan Nasional (BN), on grounds that Amanah has endorsed the Citizens' Declaration to call for Najib's resignation.
In the aftermath of the BN's victories, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin said Pakatan Harapan would not be able to deny the ruling coalition a two-thirds majority in the next general election if it failed to recruit Mahathir.
Asked to comment on this, Khairul Azwan said the people should question whether Mahathir has a personal agenda against Najib if he does not join any political party.
"It would certainly be best for him to join PAN (Amanah) and become the next opposition leader," he said.
Also present at the press conference were Umno Youth information chief Jamawi Jaafar and Umno Youth assistant treasurer Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman. - Mkini
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