Speaking at the Umno general assembly today, Saiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said the former prime minister’s Kedah roots had only made it even more difficult for Umno.

He said people in Kedah have a certain nostalgia of the former leader, who now leads the four-party opposition front, Pakatan Harapan.

“Go anywhere, they will tell you that it is this sentiment that is complicating Kedah Umno’s efforts.”

As such, Saiful said it was time Umno gather courage to put an end to such sentiments.

“I am not being apologetic, we have been faced with this hurdle from the very start. Personally, I feel we must be courageous to set aside individual sentiments. What is important is to address the people’s problems.”

He said the respect for Dr Mahathir must end, adding that Dr Mahathir’s alliance with DAP had only “created chaos” in Umno.

He said the solution is for Umno to stop showing respect to Dr Mahathir.

“Enough with the nostalgia. What’s the use of nostalgia if it only hurts, shakes our conviction and love for the party?

“There’s no individual larger than the party,” he added.