Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the former and longest-serving Malaysian Prime Minister, has announced at a press conference that he has quit UMNO (United Malays National Organisation), the ruling party of the Barisan National coalition.
Tun Dr Mahathir stated that his decision to leave is because he feels the party is no longer UMNO, but a party that is dedicated to protecting and upholding PM Najib’s actions instead.
‘I feel embarrassed that I am associated with a party that is seen as supporting corruption – it has caused me to feel ashamed’, explain Tun Mahathir as quoted by Channel News Asia.
Tun Dr Mahathir, a fierce critic of Najib’s administration, has been quite vocal about his disapproval and dislike; and this is but another showcase of that sentiment.
Tun Dr Mahathir also announced that his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah has joined him in quitting the party as well. The ex-Prime Minister also stressed that he isn’t going to join any other political party, not is he setting up his own.
This isn’t the first time Tun Dr Mahathir has quit, though. In May 2008, Mahathir first quit the party during Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s short stint as PM and re-joined in 2009 when Najib became Prime Minister.
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