Prime Minister Abdullah Ahamad Badawi today said that Umno Youth exco member Mukhriz Mahathir has made a ‘sudden reversal’ on his earlier stand regarding his leadership.

Abdullah was commenting on the letter sent by Mukhriz asking on the premier to step down in the wake of Barisan Nasional’s poor performance in the March 8 polls.

"One day before he sent me the letter, he issued a statement saying he supports and he understands what happened was a ‘collective responsibility’ and other statements (were made by him) which appeared to be positive statements about me.

"Suddenly he changes ... just one day later, he sends a letter not only to me, but to (deputy premier) Najib (Abdul Razak) and the whole country," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

"To me, this is not the right approach. This is a reaction from him as a member of Umno Youth which has already decided to support me and the party leadership.

"He also said that me and Najib were given the support to lead the party and government ... this is an act (writing the letter) which contravenes the approach and stand taken by Umno and Umno Youth," he added.

Abdullah said that he will leave it to Umno Youth and its chief Hishammuddin Hussein to act on the matter.

Not Umno Youth's stand

Meanwhile, Hishamuddin said the letter did not reflect the movement’s stand. He added that Umno Youth is still committed to its earlier pledge to support Abdullah and Najib

"If the call on the prime minister was made in his personal capacity, then I personally feel that the manner in which it was done and the timing are inappropriate.

"In the current situation, what is more important is how the parties can be organised for the good of all because the institution takes precedence over everything else," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

Hishammudin also said that Umno Youth still holds on to the stand that whatever decisions seen to be involving party interests must be done collectively and not individually.