ABC Online, Kuala Lumpur :
Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad has quit the ruling Malay party, saying Monday it has been hijacked by embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak to protect his own interests.
Najib has come under pressure to resign after documents leaked last July showed more than $700 million was channeled into his private bank accounts. The attorney general
decided last month not to prosecute Najib, saying most of the money was a personal donation from Saudi Arabia’s royal family. Mahathir said he decided to quit the United Malays National Organization, or UMNO, because it was now “a party dedicated to supporting Najib, protecting Najib and upholding whatever he does, including some of the wrong things he has done.”
“I feel embarrassed that I am associated with a party that is seen as supporting corruption,” he told a news conference. “I am very much ashamed of all that is happening, I decided that I cannot be a party to all these things, so the least I can to do is leave the party.”
Mahathir was prime minister for 22 years before stepping down in 2003. He remains an influential political figure and has led calls for Najib to resign.
However, his departure from the ruling party is unlikely to have a major impact on Najib, who continues to enjoy the support of senior UMNO leaders.
Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad has quit the ruling Malay party, saying Monday it has been hijacked by embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak to protect his own interests.
Najib has come under pressure to resign after documents leaked last July showed more than $700 million was channeled into his private bank accounts. The attorney general
decided last month not to prosecute Najib, saying most of the money was a personal donation from Saudi Arabia’s royal family. Mahathir said he decided to quit the United Malays National Organization, or UMNO, because it was now “a party dedicated to supporting Najib, protecting Najib and upholding whatever he does, including some of the wrong things he has done.”
“I feel embarrassed that I am associated with a party that is seen as supporting corruption,” he told a news conference. “I am very much ashamed of all that is happening, I decided that I cannot be a party to all these things, so the least I can to do is leave the party.”
Mahathir was prime minister for 22 years before stepping down in 2003. He remains an influential political figure and has led calls for Najib to resign.
However, his departure from the ruling party is unlikely to have a major impact on Najib, who continues to enjoy the support of senior UMNO leaders.
