KOTA BARU: "I am the happiest person now," said Pas spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat on hearing that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had resigned from Umno.

"I was asleep when I received a call from a Pas supreme council member informing me that (Dr Mahathir) had left Umno.

"I cannot describe my feeling after hearing the news," he said at his home yesterday.

Nik Abdul Aziz, who is Kelantan menteri besar, said Dr Mahathir should have resigned a long time ago and not when Umno was facing problems.

"His decision to resign now might cause others who planned to join Umno to cancel their plans as they may be confused," he said.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Umno liaison chairman Datuk Seri Annuar Musa said Dr Mahathir could be described as having "betrayed" the party as he had invited Umno members to follow in his footsteps.

"He has forgotten that, at one time, he had advised Umno members to always be with the party, no matter what happened.

"He said party leaders would come and go but members should stay and be united with the party.

"I think his decision to resign and invite others to join him is to put pressure on Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi."

People's Progressive Party deputy president Datuk Nik Sapiea Nik Yusof said Dr Mahathir could join the PPP and choose any post he wanted.

"We welcome him to our party so that he can continue with his Vision 2020 concept. Party members believe that only he can achieve that vision."