Forget Najib, we are concentrating on rebuilding Umno, says Annuar Musa

Kamles Kumar Kamles Kumar Updated 5 years ago · Published on 9 Aug 2018 7:00AM · 11 Comments

UMNO has sought to distance itself from former president Najib Razak, describing him as “baggage” the party needs to get rid of in order for it to regain lost support.

This surprising attack from the party’s secretary-general Annuar Musa came just hours after the former prime minister was slapped with an additional three charges of money-laundering at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex yesterday.

Annuar had defended Najib when the allegations linking him to kleptocracy and the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal first surfaced. 

But in an interview with The Malaysian Insight yesterday, Annuar said instead of defending Najib against the various allegations, Umno should simply cut ties with its former president and focus on rebuilding the party.

“We must continue this journey. We are not going to wait. We are not going to waste our time defending Najib,” Annuar told The Malaysian Insight. 

“We in Umno cannot carry this baggage forever. There must be a cut off. It is entirely his (Najib) responsibility.”

Najib was charged yesterday at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court with money laundering linked to SRC International, a former 1MDB unit.

The disgraced former Umno leader now faces a total of seven charges. The earlier four on July 4 were three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of misusing his position. All charges so far are linked to SRC International.

Annuar, who is also the Ketereh MP, said Najib is no longer the prime minister and Umno president so the party should move on with the new leadership. 

“Najib is one person, no one is indispensable. Najib is no longer president of the party, to me, he is just a party member. 

“Whether people support him or not, it is immaterial. The party is more important than any individual.”

The former Mara chairman said Umno was not aware of scandals plaguing 1MDB.

“As far as we are concerned now, what happened with 1MDB has got nothing to do with the party. The party is not part of the decision, the party was not consulted and the party was not informed.”

He added that Umno now has a new leadership and not waiting around for Najib to be acquitted of the charges. 

“Najib has already relinquished his position and now the party is under a new administration. We are going to do it the new way. We are not going to wait for Najib to settle his cases in court.”

Below are excerpts from his interview with The Malaysian Insight:

Q: Why did Umno defend Najib before on 1MDB? 

A: I think it is very simple. Najib was the prime minister and he was the president of the party. When some controversy crops up, we have certain basic ethics, practice and also tradition. 

There was a principle of collective responsibility and tendency to give the benefit of the doubt of the top leadership over certain matters. 

Q: Did Najib explain the 1MDB issue to Umno? 

A: We were given an explanation but we cannot pass judgment because of whatever that is laid before you. Najib mentioned at a higher-level meeting that RM2.6 billion did not come from 1MDB. We have to accept that unless I have proof it (the money) is from 1MDB. 

Q: Why did Umno stick with Najib when he was PM instead of opposing? 

A: We had to stay together. People were saying they wanted to pull down the former government. We could not afford to join the then opposition to pull down the house all together where we live in. 

Q: What’s the party’s stance now on Najib’s court cases?

A: We gave the maximum benefit of the doubt to Najib. Now when we are no longer in the government and those people make accusations, I think we want them to prove the allegations.

Yes okay, you take Najib to court. The sooner the better. Come with full respect of the rule of law. 

Q: Do you think there are trumped-up charges against Najib? 

A: It is all getting more and more obvious now. But that is for the court of law to decide, let the due process take its course. 

Something that has puzzled us was they had said they have all evidence to show Najib stole money from 1MDB, but until today it is just SRC and the charge is under Anti-Money Laundering Act. – August 9, 2018.

 

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Comments

  • This is an ongoing thing, a not-so-soon-to-end matter. Without Jho Low's saying so, some things remain in the dark, or unverified. So a few charges against Najib may not stick, I think..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Also, rebuild Umno properly without harping on outdated race & religion ideas & you will progress leaving hate behind. Looking at young Malays I feel they want to be modern, with progressive thinking. Leave the past behind with its desultry thinking. Welcome aboard, we are in this together..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • All charges lead to the one who is in charge, so it's very obvious. If not who else? Finance minister and prime minister portfolio together is the biggest mistake BN has made which the person can manipulate and don't have accountability and credibility. Please think this over again.

    Posted 5 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply

  • The question must be asked: did Najib know the REAL source of the money he "suddenly" found in his bank account? WAS IT DEPOSITED THERE BY SOME HITHERTO UNKNOWN PERSON WITHOUT NAJIB'S KNOWLEDGE?..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • If no knowledge of this deposit, how can he be found guilty on this count? SOMEBODY ELSE IN THE BACKGROUND, A VERY SMART PERSON, DID THE MONEY TRANSFER, UNKNOWN TO NAJIB, HENCE HIS CONSISTENT DENIALS? Go think it through..

      Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • JLow and his accomplices deposited it lah; Sarawak Report already exposed clearly. Go read it as the website is not blocked anymore. Previous gov't blocked every website that exposes the ex PM's wrong doing. Now it's open to the public.

      Posted 5 years ago by Ryan Li · Reply

  • Hard time see true friends.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Yih Ven · Reply

  • Annuar Musa pls SHUT UP ur ugly Mouth U too belong to BN n UMNO

    Posted 5 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply

  • What nonsense are you talking about that the party was not informed? On March 8, 2015 JIbby held a closed door meeting with 160 ketua bahagian when 1MDB news broke. Why did he had a closed door session with all the ketua bahagian, its simply to avoid these ketua rascals from ganging up to throw him out. But since cash is king he bought you people in brought day light in front of the nation. We are very sure he must have explained to the majlis tertinggi then. Did you people made any attempt to mooted a vote of no confident again the answer is no. You people has taken a pie and now wants to hang him alone, typical of UMNO melayu. Why did you people dump him then?

    Posted 5 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply

  • Ha ha ha!!!! Your new Umno President will not like you in disgracing him after his loyalty speech and reprimanding Johari. You are a real lalang and fully untrustworthy to be a Secretary general under his leadership. Sure will be kick out soon. Anyway it is known that you will not be abled to conribute anything at all.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Now that Najib is no longer the president, is there no more collective responsibility to give the benefit of the doubt of the former top leadership over "certain matters"?

    Why did UMNO not question Najib's statement that RM2.6 billion did not come from 1MDB when DOJ provided evidence to implicate MO1 in their bid to recover 1MDB's stolen money?

    Posted 5 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply