PRIME Minister Najib Razak is steadfast when facing challenges (beristiqamah), while Dr Mahathir Mohamad will sulk and, eventually, leave the party, said Umno information chief Annuar Musa.

Speaking at a forum in Parliament yesterday, Annuar said Najib would do anything solely for his own agenda, unlike Dr Mahathir.

“That is what’s special about Najib. More importantly, I support Najib. First, because he defends the party and doesn’t go against the party, unlike Dr Mahathir, who has his own agenda.

“He (Dr Mahathir) is willing to do anything – even to leave the party. To show that he is sulking, he will leave the party. Say we are on a ship, and if all of us act like that when there are disagreements, who will steer the ship?”

Annuar was responding to a question from the floor on why supported Najib even though he was a Dr Mahathir-era leader.

He recalled his start in politics in 1979, and admitted a debt of gratitude to Dr Mahathir.

“Dr Mahathir’s contributions to my career are immense. I was an ordinary kampung boy, and my family was not involved in politics.

“I was just a student leader, but with Allah’s grace, Tun Mahathir gave me the opportunity to be a minister.

“That is a question of contribution. But in politics, contributions are appreciated, but there are bigger and more important things.”

Dr Mahathir was Malaysia’s fourth and longest serving prime minister, from 1981 until 2003. Annuar was a member of Dr Mahathir’s cabinet from 1993 till 1999 as rural and regional development minister. Dr Mahathir is now leading opposition pact Pakatan Harapan and is one of Najib’s most vociferous critics over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

Annuar said though he admired Dr Mahathir, he believed the party was bigger than any individual.

“So when you ask me why I now support Najib, for me it’s simple. In my view, we have to differentiate between the individual and the good of the masses.”

Annuar said another of Najib’s “special qualities” was that he did not like to confront people.

“In his political record, he does not like to take on other people. He would be appointed to posts by his own merit and he is very patient.” – October 26, 2017.