Khir Toyo quits all Umno posts
Malaysiakini.com
Mar 19, 2008
Syed Jaymal Zahiid

Former Selangor Menteri Besar Mohd Khir Toyo has relinquished his posts as the state’s Umno and Barisan Nasional chief. MCPX

This is the second resignation by a senior Umno leader in just a day. The first to call it quits was Umno Secretary-General Radzi Sheikh Ahmad who made his announcement this morning. Radzi also resigned as Barisan Nasional secretary-general.

khir toyo"I assume responsibility for the heavy (electoral) loss suffered by Umno and BN in Selangor and therefore resign from my posts with immediate effect," Khir told a packed press conference held at the Umno office in Shah Alam.

When asked if he thought that his decision was hasty, a sombre Khir said that if he was to delay his resignation, trouble would brew in Umno ranks.

"This will lead to divisions in the party. I notice that there is already a blame game (for the Umno’s electoral losses) among party members. To prevent this, I assume full responsibility over the loss.

"My resignation is in accordance to my belief that a leader must take full responsibility. This is the best thing to do for Selangor," he said.

Khir is the first Umno leader to quit and claim responsibility for the heavy defeat suffered by Umno and BN in the March 8 polls.

Muhammad Taib returns

Selangor had for the first time in Malaysian politics fallen into opposition hands following the 12th general election results that saw the opposition grabbing 36 out of the state’s 50 seats.

Khir, however, had managed to survive the opposition onslaught and retained his Sungai Panjang state seat with a 5,828 majority - 368 more votes than what he had garnered at the 2004 polls.

"I apologise to Selangor Umno members. I promise that I will do my best to cooperate with the new leadership and wrest the state back from the opposition (current government)," he said.

Khir denied being pressured to resign saying that his quit decision was "based on my own conscience".

Khir said that he had met Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as well as deputy president Najib Razak two days ago to tender his resignation letter.

batu talam nominations 170107 muhd taib and norainiHe said both leaders had accepted his decision with his replacement being former Selangor menteri besar Muhammad Muhammad Taib (photo, left) who has also been appointed to Abdullah’s new cabinet as rural and regional development minister.

"I will support and I also urge all Selangor Umno members to show undivided loyalty to the new leadership and be focused on winning back the state in the coming polls," Khir said.

"This is no time for quarrels and I call on every on every party member to be united," he added.

Muhammad Taib, who was at the press conference, declined to comment when approached by reporters.

He resigned as Selangor mentri besar in 1997, after being arrested at Brisbane airport in Australiafor failing to declare a suitcase of money he had with him. He was later acquitted.

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