“BOSSKU” may be popular on the ground with Malay supporters but Najib Razak won’t be given any special slot to address delegates at the party’s 73rd annual general assembly, which begins today.

Umno vice-president Ismail Sabri Yaakob told The Malaysian Insight that the former prime minister and ex-party president, who is currently Barisan Nasional advisory board chairman, is indeed popular within the party and among the public.

Najib, whose only post in Umno is Pekan division chief, is “more approachable” now without the formalities and security detail that came with being prime minister, Ismail said.

And he has been an asset for Umno, flaunting his “Bossku” moniker to good advantage when campaigning in recent by-elections.

But this is not enough to earn Najib, who is currently on trial for multiple charges related to corruption, abuse of power and money-laundering involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd, any slot to address his Umno fans.

“No, Najib won’t be speaking at the assembly. Speeches will only be given by the delegates, president and deputy president. The winding up also is by the president and the deputy,” Ismail told The Malaysian Insight.

“In the past, the wing chiefs and the three vice-presidents used to handle the winding-up session.

“Back then, the vice-presidents were ministers. So, when we give speeches, it is not just political rhetoric but there would be suggestions on how to improve the ministries. Now that we’re not the government, this is not necessary any more.”

Delegates will also have more time to speak at this year’s general assembly, he said.

Days after losing the 14th general election last year, Najib resigned from his post as BN chairman and Umno president.

The mood in Umno was dark and for a while, the Malay nationalist party looked adrift at sea. Najib is not the only leader facing corruption charges. Party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor are in the same boat.

But despite his corruption charges, Najib’s popularity saw an uptick at the beginning of this year, after he adopted a Malay biker slogan “Malu apa bossku” and made it his trademark.

Najib has since used it when campaigning in by-elections and on l roadshows to several states and rural areas. To date, since GE14, BN has won four out of nine by-elections held.

Umno is also in revival mode, thanks to a political pact with former arch-rival PAS, called muafakat masional (national consensus), to ensure that the two parties no longer compete for the Malay-Muslim vote but work together to topple Pakatan Harapan in the next general election.

Najib, however, will not need a special slot to prove his popularity at the Umno general assembly, which ends on Saturday at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Ismail expects the former president will still be a draw, just with his presence.

“Look at the response he gets when he goes on a ‘Bossku’ tour, it’s very good. Everywhere he goes, he receives good response, especially from those within Umno.

“Previously, it was difficult to approach Najib because he was the prime minister but now people can take selfies with him.

“So, although he is not giving any speech, people still want to come to the assembly because they want to see him.” – December 4, 2019.