Johari says it again… Najib a burden for Umno

Updated 5 years ago · Published on 10 Aug 2018 10:40AM · 4 Comments

Former prime minister Najib Razak at the Kuala Lumpur court complex where he was charged with three counts of money laundering on Wednesday. – EPA pic, August 10, 2018.

NAJIB Razak will be a “burden” for Umno, said Johari Abdul Ghani, as the former second finance minister faces more criticism from party members over his remarks two days ago on the former prime minister.

The Titiwangsa Umno division chief reiterated yesterday that the former party president should not have campaigned during the Sg Kandis by-election. 

“What I raised was the possibility of Najib campaigning brought about a burden of negative perception was not the wisest strategy for Umno,” he said in a statement addressed to critics of him on social media. 

Johari said on Wednesday it was unwise to have allowed Najib on the campaign trail, given the charges against him and the scandal in which he is implicated.

The former Titiwangsa MP added that even though he believed Najib was “innocent till proven guilty”, the former Umno president faces public judgment for being allegedly corrupt. 

“Everyone knows that Najib is facing a perception of corruption and this is one of the factors that the vote for BN deteriorated in Sg Kandis,” Johari said. 

Umno must not follow its leaders blindly and need to speak up for what is right and wrong, he said. 

“Blind loyalty cannot give victory to Umno… The burden of negative perception towards Umno brought the tsunami in the 14th general election where many ministers, including myself, were defeated,” Johari said. 

He questioned Umno’s move to allow Najib campaign for its candidate in the recent Sg Kandis by-election, which it lost to PKR by nearly 6,000 votes.

In recent days, several Umno leaders have criticised Najib’s role in the by-election campaign, given the multiple charges he faces.

Party vice-president Khaled Nordin said it was Najib on trial, not Umno, and the party should move on. 

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa told The Malaysian Insight that the party views Najib as “baggage” and needs to work on gaining lost support.

Najib was slapped with three money laundering charges on Wednesday related to RM42 million from SRC International Bhd deposited into his account.

On July 4, he was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of misusing his position.

All seven charges are linked to SRC International, a former subsidiary of beleaguered state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd. – August 10, 2018.

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Comments

  • Hard time sees true friends.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Yih Ven · Reply

  • Hahahahahahaha

    Posted 5 years ago by Leng Kapri As Saribasi · Reply

  • Reform & not carry any burden at all?..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Jibby says he was there at Sg Kandis at the invite of the candidate pig face aka spin doctor lokman, so please explain this who is actually running dumno? Wasn't there a by-election director calling all the shots? Was the by-election director by-passed? Wasn't there a game plan that you donkeys normally follow, seems everything is disarray now ya, well good luck to you donkeys for upholding your valued tradition. Jibby still in command though you have elected a new president simply because cash is king maaaa.

    Posted 5 years ago by Teruna Kelana · Reply