Hishammuddin 'stunned' by Mukhriz demand

Umno Youth head Hishammuddin Hussein has branded executive committee member Mukhriz Mahathir as ‘disloyal’ to the party, for attaching a condition to his membership status.

Mukhriz, also the Jerlun member of Parliament, said yesterday that he may yet quit the party if no action is taken to resolve the Umno leadership issue by July.

"My preference is that action will be taken (against president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) before the beginning of our branch meetings which is in July. Then I reserve the right to make a different stance on the matter," he said.

Responding, Hishammuddin noted that this is not the first time Mukhriz has asked for Abdullah’s resignation.

“But the thing that I’m most saddened and disappointed with is the fact that he has placed a condition on his membership in Umno,” he said in the Parliament lobby today.

He said that setting conditions and a timeframe is no way for a person to behave when he aspires to contest the post of Youth chief.

“I’m stunned that, in the context of loyalty, he dares to impose a condition on his membership. Never has this happened before,” he said.

“As the Youth chief, I stress that loyalty to the party is not something you joke (about), play (with) or bet with...Our faithfulness, loyalty, commitment and honesty cannot be tampered with or bartered”.

Mukhriz has confirmed that he will vie for the Umno Youth chief’s post in the coming party polls in December.

‘Consider feelings’

Hishammuddin also said Mukhriz and others following his lead must consider the feelings of grassroots members, and reflect on those who have worked hard to remain loyal to the party.

“In the midst of change, we can only move smoothly if everyone contributes to the process. I think the people are sick of listening to these threats.”

He said the public is looking forward to leaders fulfilling their election promises.

However, if party members continue to retaliate, then people “will very much disappointed with Umno’s leadership”.

“I urge members to remain calm and to stay strong. In the context of Umno Youth, we are one team. Mukhriz either understands this principle or pretends to not understand,” said Hishammuddin.

“We have to put party needs before individual needs. This principle cannot be bartered.”

Hishammuddin said the sentiments of delegates will decide the party leadership at the general assembly.

“I urge the members to look ahead and move forward. Strengthen our line-up as the party doesn’t depend on one person,” he added.

On Monday, ex-party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad (photo) - who is Mukhriz's father - had announced his exit from the party until such a time as Abdullah is replaced.

Mukhriz responds

Responding to Hishammuddin's statement, Mukhriz later told reporters that the youth chief had misunderstood what he had said.

According to the Jerlun MP, he did not say that he would leave Umno by July if the prime minister had not step down by that time.

"The cause and effect is not so direct as that. I said in my statement that I reserve the right to change my position at whatever time according to the latest developments.

"I did not say that I have only one option, which is to leave the party. I think I have many other options before that option arises," Mukhriz told reporters at Parliament.

Asked the July deadline arose, Mukhriz said it was because the party branch meetings would be starting in that month and he hoped that "change would occur before the said branch meetings".

On the emergency meeting tonight, Mukhriz said he was prepared to face any action that the party's top leadership impose on him as a consequence of his statements.

"I've made my opinion on the matter very clearly. I will abide by it. I just hope that we are not told to just shut our mouth. That's not going to work for Umno at this particular moment," he said.

He also said he would not have issued any statement if he was not prepared to face the consequences.

Mukhriz said there were many Umno members who agreed with the stand that he has taken but were not willing to take such "drastic steps" as he had taken.

While not ruling out the possibility of a "snowball" effect following his father's quitting, he also said he felt many will not follow Mahathir's example "except for those who have no position in the party".

Mukhriz said further that he has received information of those party members who have quit also found their branches - particularly in Merbok and Pokok Sena in Kedah as well as in Johor - were subsequently dissolved.

"We'll see how many more of those will occur."