Umno willing to take Tun M back: Ahmad Zahid

SUNGAI BESAR: Umno will willingly accept Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad back to the party if he recants his smear campaign against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Hamidi (pix) today.
The acting Umno deputy president said he is dismayed that a former Umno president like Mahathir would choose a platform like the opposition to relay his objections and carry out his smear campaign.
"We feel sad that a former Umno president and Prime Minister of the country is willing to go and smear a Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign and wanting to see the defeat of a BN candidate in the by-elections," he said at a press conference at Sungai Besar here today.
Zahid said that Mahathir is currently at a "political crossroads" to see how relevant and popular he is.
"We understand that he is at a political crossroads to test how popular he is, to see if he is still relevant. I hope the people will maintain their support for BN," he said ahead of the Sungai Besar by-elections next Saturday.
The Home Minister also added that if Mahathir is sincere and is willing to come back to the party, they will willingly accept him, provided that he does not backstab anyone.
"We are very accepting at Umno," he said.
Mahathir today campaigned for the first time in his political career against the Barisan Nasional as he endorsed Parti Amanah Negara's candidate for the by-election, Azhar Shukor.
Mahathir, however, has insisted that he remains non-partisan and is only with the opposition to oust Najib.
Earlier in the day, Zahid, who was in Sungai Besar for the campaign, visited the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela).
He said that the Home Ministry has set a realistic target of recruiting five million members for Rela by the end of next year.
"We want to recruit five million Rela members by next year and I think it is achievable," he said.