Malaysia Update

Dr Mahathir was seen nodding, as though in agreement, when Muhyiddin expressed the hope of seeing the former prime minister rejoin Umno.

Muhyiddin said Dr Mahathir’s presence more or less reflected his recognition of the new Umno leadership line-up, to which the delegates responded with claps.

At the end of the assembly, Dr Mahathir went down to the main stage and exchanged greetings with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the Umno Supreme Council members and then he, Abdullah, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and Muhyiddin together held up their hands.

Asked why he decided to attend the assembly after having decided against doing so earlier, Dr Mahathir said Muhyiddin’s election as the deputy president gave him the confidence that the anticipated changes in Umno would take place after all.

“I think there is hope for the future,” he said.

Dr Mahathir had stated earlier in his blog, CheDet.com, that he would not attend the assembly as he felt that Umno Youth had openly condoned money politics.

Dr Mahathir also said Umno should fight for the people and not for certain group of individuals if it wants regain the support of the people.

“Without the people, Umno cannot win. Umno’s consolidation process depends very much on where the party is heading, whether it truly fights for the people or for certain group of people,” he said.

Dr Mahathir also agreed to the suggestion that the party do away with the nomination quota which determines the eligibility of members to contest for party posts.

But the most important, he said, was for the party to eliminate money politics because “even if we change the system 10 times, if money politics is still being practised, then Umno will be destroyed,” he said. Asked on the power transition from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to Najib, Dr Mahathir said: “The succession is from the Umno president (to his deputy) and I hope another transition from the prime minister will happen.”

Denying that he would be appointed a Government adviser, he said: “If you ask for my advice, why not. Just like Pak Lah, he says he can give his advice, I also can give mine.”

On the Umno line-up, Dr Mahathir said: “There are still certain things which I am not happy with.”

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein described Dr Mahathir’s presence at the general assembly as the openness in Umno, which did not exist in the Opposition.

“I am overwhelmed because his presence will hasten our effort to close ranks. This differentiates us and as vice-president, I will help shoulder the responsibility entrusted to us to rebuild the party,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir’s third son, Datuk Mukhriz, hoped that his father would return to Umno as soon as possible.

“This is what we have been waiting for. My father has actually promised that on the day Datuk Seri Najib takes over the party presidency, he will submit his membership application form.

“This (Najib’s presidency) has now become a reality and we are delighted at this new development. However, I’ve never influenced my father to make the decision,” Mukhriz told reporters.