KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad confirmed that a delegation of Umno leaders led by deputy party president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan had sought his advice on leaving the Malay party.
He said this when commenting on a viral picture of himself with Mohamad, former Umno party secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, Larut member of parliament Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, Arau MP Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim and Tanjung Karang MP Tan Sri Noh Omar.
Dr Mahathir, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) denied Mohamad had sought intervention against the deregistration of Umno during the meeting, which is said to have taken place on Oct 22.
"No, they came to see and tell me that they are going to leave Umno.
"And, they wanted my advice. That's all, nothing else," Dr Mahathir told reporters after opening the Scholar’s Library at the Islamic Arts Museum here.
After the Sabah Umno exodus, six more Umno parliamentarians have left the party today.
They are Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad (Mersing), Datuk Shabudin Yahaya (Tasik Gelugor), Hamzah (Larut MP and former minister), Datuk Mohamad Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Sabak Bernam), Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Tanah Merah) and Datuk Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu).