KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Umno Youth will not take action against Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir for calling on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down.

Speaking after chairing an executive committee meeting, the wing's chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said they have decided to accept Mukhriz's explanation that the letter was private and never meant to be made public.

His announcement received huge applause from members present at Menara Dato' Onn, Putra World Trade Centre, yesterday.

"We admit that the letter was damaging because it was made public, but he has explained that he was not the one who leaked the contents. Therefore, no action will be taken even though he did not retract the letter," he said.

The letter, he explained, was addressed specifically to the prime minister and copies were sent to four or five other ministers.