Dr Mahathir has no right to meddle in UMNO affairs - Salleh

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad does not have any right to interfere in UMNO matters as he had announced his resignation from the party, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.

He said Dr Mahathir was recalling old stories, repeating what had already been clearly answered and criticising the party with various allegations, whereas he had already left the party's struggles.

"Dr Mahathir's stand appears to be more contradictory. The open letter he had written clearly showed his intention to destroy UMNO. His writings are full of vengeance against (prime minister) Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak," said Salleh in his blog entry, sskeruak.blogspot.com today.

The minister said if Dr Mahathir's intention was sincere in defending UMNO, he should not conspire with the group who had been UMNO's enemy all this while.

Salleh said: "Collaborating with these enemies to topple the government that was democratically chosen, clearly is not to save Malaysia, but to destroy it.

"Tun Dr Mahathir and his group are trying to find a short cut to topple the government. They don't follow democratic channels, which have become the practice in Malaysia since Indipendence and are impatient to wait for the election process, he said.

Through his writing, Salleh said Dr Mahathir had high political ambition and agenda.

"He tries to show that he is better than Najib, in fact equating himself with several previous prime ministers, whereas his attitude did not reflect the real personality.

"The proof, Dr Mahathir does not want to listen and accept whatever replies or explanations that do not meet his requirements," he said.

On Feb 29, Dr Mahathir announced that he was leaving UMNO after he was reported as having lost confidence in the current leadership.