Kuala Lumpur (PTI): Two days after Malaysia's former premier Mahathir Mohammad quit the ruling party UMNO demanding "change in leadership", his son Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir followed the suit on wednesday quitting the party.

Mokhzani, a businessman and a former youth wing treasurer in the party, made the same demand as his father asking party president and premier Abdullah Badawi to step down in the wake of March 8 poll's electoral loss.

Mahathir jr's step comes even as the party members have rallied behind Badawi extending their support to him and criticised the former premier.

While Mokhzani is following his father's steps, his brother Mukhriz, a member of Parliament and party's youth executive council member, has sought to remain with the party and fight Abdullah from within.

Mahathir, who was premier for 22 years and also United Malays National Organisation head had handpicked Abdullah to succeed him in 2003. However, he became Abdullah's most vocal critic after the premier decided not to implement some of the mega projects Mahathir had proposed earlier including the bridge to Singapore.

Mahathir's resignation from the Malay party UMNO on May 19 has triggered a party wide condemnation and shock, with many UMNO leaders either criticisng him or appealing that he re-consider his decision.