KUALA LUMPUR: Umno leaders were still shocked and angry, one day after digesting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's decision to quit the party.

Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz did not mince her words.

"I'm shocked and disappointed because Dr Mahathir seems to be punishing Umno over issues he is dissatisfied with. Don't use the party as a hostage to achieve what you want."

Rafidah said those who wanted to change the party should do so from within.

"Dr Mahathir is not heeding the party principles of Bersatu, Bersedia, Berkhidmat. We were taught by him to be loyal to the party, but it looks like he is not practising what he preached.



"I've received a lot of calls from concerned Wanita members over this. I hope members will be patient.

"This is the business of one person, irrespective of the fact that he was the former president."

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad described the former prime minister's move as being "not very smart". He said he himself had differences with the party's leadership, but it had never crossed his mind to quit the party.

"What is important is the party, and if the person really believes in the party's struggles, then he should not quit."

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob described Dr Mahathir's move as a cry for attention.

"Tun seems to be dissatisfied that no one is listening to his call for Pak Lah to step down as the prime minister.

"He has no right to determine who should step down or who should stay. He is putting his personal interests above the interests of the party."

Ismail quoted Dr Mahathir as saying, "A party's journey should not depend on the individual. It must be determined by its members", when former deputy prime minister Datuk Anwar Ibrahim was sacked from the party.

He stressed that Umno had provided various platforms for its members to air their views and concerns. He was confident not many would follow Dr Mahathir's urgings.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohd Nazri Aziz criticised the recent statements made by Dr Mahathir as undemocratic.

"No one has the right to use dirty tactics to take down a leader who has been democratically elected.

"It is not something we condone. It is undemocratic. It is blackmailing the party."

To a question, Nazri said it would be unfair to ask the party to determine whether or not Dr Mahathir should be cut off from the party.

"Don't ask us, ask him. We did not sack him and it is not fair to ask us in Umno because we did not leave Umno. He left Umno, be it talak empat or talak lima, ask him.

"This is a democracy. We did not ask him to leave. He is not a child. He thought about it and made his decision," he said.

In Seremban, supreme council member Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said it was normal for leaders to come and go.

"We must come together and unite so that Umno will remain as the backbone of the government and the Barisan Nasional. We must return to the base of Umno's struggle, that Umno is not a party that can be used for personal gain," said Mohamad, who is the Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar.

He was speaking after a gathering of Community Development Department staff yesterday.

Veteran party leader Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said despite the sad turn of events, Umno would bounce back.

Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said while he was sad with the development, he urged members to stay calm and work towards strengthening the party.

"I hope members won't jump ship and leave the party."