UMNO leaders have dismissed talk that the recently elected party Supreme Council is made up of supporters of former president Najib Razak.

They said the new leadership is made up of people who support party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s vision of Umno.

They were commenting on Khairy Jamaluddin’s statement last week that Najib remained influential in the party because many of his staunch supporters were now members of the Supreme Council.

Supreme Council member Johan Abdul Aziz said there is no such thing as “Najib’s men” in the party leadership.

“The current Umno camp are supporters of Zahid who respect the party’s institutions and president.

“There are no groups of supporters of Najib. There are no other camps because I am an Umno member, Najib is also an Umno member. The person who is not an Umno member is Khairy, because he has been sacked,” he said.

In a podcast with former Umno information chief Shahril Hamdan recently, Khairy said that although Zahid remains the Umno president, Najib continues to have influence in the party even though he is serving a 12-year prison sentence.

Khairy is among the handful of Umno leaders who were dismissed from the party in an internal cleansing. Shahril was suspended.

Johan is a new face among the 25 Supreme Council members who were recently elected. Khairy said Johan is among Najib supporters.

The Hulu Langat Umno division chief denied this.

Johan said Zahid had served as Najib’s political secretary before becoming the deputy party president and deputy prime minister.

“You must stand with the party. We will support Zahid as president.

“The issue of Najib’s people or Zahid’s people doesn’t arise. There is only one Umno family. There are no factions.

“The important thing is, we know how to take care of the party and take good care of our house. If there is a difference of opinion, we must correct it. If it’s not corrected, we have to clean up the mess,” he said.

Johan said Khairy could also be seen as Najib’s man as he had served as a minister in the latter’s cabinet.

Khairy was the former youth and sports minister who ran the National Transformation 2050 programme initiated by Najib.

Najib still popular

Another new face on the Supreme Council is Najib’s former special officer Isham Jalil.

Isham said Najib was a popular leader.

“Najib led Umno for a long time, almost 10 years. It is natural that he should have many supporters in the party.

“I am not surprised (by Khairy’s claim) because when Najib was an Umno leader; he was good with people. 

“He has many friends. He still has many followers even after being jailed. Even at the grassroots level, Najib has many followers,” said Isham.

Another newly elected Supreme Council member, Muhammad Razlan Rafii said the party will always remember a leader who has contributed much to Umno and the country.

“The difference between Khairy and Najib is service. People remember Najib’s service. He was willing to sacrifice for the party but people do not remember Khairy’s service because he did not see the party as an organisation.

Zahid in charge

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia political analyst Mazlan Ali said Zahid is making all the decisions in Umno today.

He also dismissed talk that Zahid’s plan for Umno is part of Najib’s scheme.

“It is illogical to say that Najib is the hidden hand in Umno. Zahid is making all the decisions, including the decisions to work with Pakatan Harapan to form a unity government and not have the top two party posts contested.

“The victory of pro-Zahid candidates in the recent party elections has nothing to do with Najib, who is now in prison,” said Mazlan. 

“Khairy was making a political statement. On what basis, we don’t know. Did he want to pit Zahid against Najib? 

“Najib is also silent now. Now it is Zahid’s leadership, we don’t know what Khairy is trying to achieve.” – March 27, 2023.