Mahathir quits ruling Umno party, protesting corruption

Mahathir, Malaysia's longest-serving leader, remains a highly respected and influential figure and has become the fiercest critic of Najib, who is facing pressure over a graft scandal surrounding state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
"I won't call it UMNO anymore, this is Najib's party. I feel embarrassed that I am associated with a party that is seen as supporting corruption - it had caused me to feel ashamed," he told reporters at a press conference.
But the leader said he would not set up a new party or joinany other party.
"I can't speak for my son but my wife joins me in leaving Umno," he said Monday in response to a question of whether his son and former Kedah chief minister Mukhriz Mahathir will follow suit in leaving the party.
This is the second time Dr Mahathir is quiting the party, which he led from 1981 to 2003 when he was prime minister.
He first quit in May 2008 during the tenure of former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.  In 2009, he rejoined Umno when Najib became prime minister.//The Star//Reuters