KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted that several Sabah Umno leaders had met him last week to express their decision to leave the party.
However, he denied claims that he plotted the mass defection involving five members of parliament and nine state assemblymen today.
”Yes...they met me and came to tell me that they wanted to leave Umno, ” said the Prime Minister.
He said Umno members have minds of their own on whether they want to leave the party or not.
”They want to come out... they have their own mind. And if they don’t want to come out, they can stay.” he said.
Dr Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman, said this when met after the launch of Proton's first sports utility vehicle, the X70 at the Kuala Lumpu Convention Centre.
Yesterday, five members of parliament, two senators and nine state assemblymen from Sabah announced their exit from Umno.
The MPs were Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun (Beaufort), Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri (Kudat), Datuk Seri Ronald Kiandee (Beluran), Datuk Zakaria Idris (Libaran) and Yamani Hafez Musa (Sipitang).
The assemblymen were Datuk Musbah Jamli (Tempasuk), Datuk Japlin Akin (Usukan), Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor (Sulaman), Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar (Kawang), Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (Membakut), Datuk Isnin Aliasnih (Klias), Datuk Matbali Musbah (Lumadan), Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Karanaan) and Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan (Apas).
The two Sabah Umno senators, Datuk John Ambrose and Datuk Ghani Yassin also left the party.
Asked if Pakatan Harapan will accept them, Dr Mahathir said he was still unclear on the matter.
”We have to see how they behave. If they are supportive and didn’t do anything wrong in the past we will accept them.”
"They have to stay as independents and support the government first." he added.