KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed believes the latest Kemaman by-election result signals the end of Umno in the next 16th General Election (GE16).
He said the party will be wiped out in the next election and the only opportunity to save it would be to sever ties with DAP.
"What can save Umno is separation from DAP and a return to the struggle for race, country and religion.
"Obsolete leaders need to be dropped and the Malay problem needs to be fought for again especially regarding the poverty of the Malays," he said in a posting on X earlier today.
He said Umno losing in the Kemaman by-election is evidence of deterioration of support towards the party and it will continue to experience the situation as long as it is working together with DAP.
He claimed that Umno is no longer fighting for race, country and religion but instead fighting for money to save the leadership that conspires with crime.
He said voters are no longer aware of Umno's services to the country where Umno's role in advancing the country from poverty to semi-developed now is not realised by them.
He added that young voters grew up after the country progressed and they believe that the country is developed as there are many skyscrapers.
"I am sad because the father saved Umno once upon a time and now the son destroyed Umno after taking over the leadership.
"Like it or not, this is the truth. This is Kemaman's message," he added.
Pas won the Kemaman by-election against Barisan Nasional (BN) with a bigger majority of 37,220 votes.
Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar secured 64,998 votes, while BN's General (Rtd) Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor bagged 27,778 votes.