Najib’s aide challenges Dr M to disprove ambition to make Mukhriz PM

(MMO) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad must name his choices for the prime minister and deputy prime minister’s post to dispel claims that he wants his son to be named for the positions, Datuk Seri Tengku Sarifuddin Tengku Ahmad said today.

The press secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that until Dr Mahathir is willing to do so, suspicions will remain that his offensive against Najib is driven purely by his ambition to see his son, Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, one day rule the country.

Tengku Sarifuddin also said that the belief that the former prime minister’s campaign against Putrajaya was motivated by personal reasons was why Umno members rejected his efforts to unseat Najib and removed Mukriz was Kedah mentri besar.

“All Tun Mahathir needs to do is state who his alternative candidates are as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. How can a man who wants to dictate and decide everything avoid answering this one critical question.

“Until he does, Tun Mahathir cannot blame the people for believing that his failed attempt to unseat the Prime Minister is all about paving the way for his son,” Tengku Sarifuddin said in a statement today.

He also added that Umno members’ rejection was why Dr Mahathir was forced to seek out former nemesis Lim Kit Siang to support his “Citizens Declaration” calling for Najib’s resignation.

Najib’s aide has led the counteroffensive against Dr Mahathir by honing in on the claim that the latter is hoping to see Mukhriz become prime minister one day.

He previously questioned why Mukhriz contested for the Umno vice presidency if he denied his ambitions to rule Malaysia, pointing out that the post was in the first step of the succession to be the Umno president, who is by convention the prime minister of the ruling Barisan Nasional.

Dr Mahathir, together with politicians from both sides of the divide and civil society, launched the Citizens Declaration on March 4 to push for Najib’s resignation. The declaration was later dubbed the Save Malaysia movement.

Although the movement is premised on the alleged abuses involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s accounts in 2013, its critics have insisted that the campaign is meant to elevate Mukhriz to the position of prime minister.

The movement itself has also become fractured in the weeks since its launch, due in part to the lack of common ground among its supporters beyond the shared intent to see Najib leave.

Despite the mutual aim of wanting the prime minister to resign, there has been no consensus on who should replace him.

Former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has been suggested as a possible candidate, but he has been coy about wanting to fill the position should it become available.