I'm not meddling in Zahid's Umno, says Najib

Melati A. Jalil Melati A. Jalil Updated 5 years ago · Published on 15 Aug 2018 2:11PM · 6 Comments

Former Umno president Najib Razak (pic) says new president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is free to decide on matters relating to the party. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, August 15, 2018.

FORMER Umno president Najib Razak does not see his frequent statements on national issues as interfering with the party’s new leadership.

He said new president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is free to decide on matters relating to the party, such as election candidates and office-bearers.

“But, I’m also entitled to defend my policies, and to clear misconceptions and the manipulation of facts and figures by the new government.

“To be fair, it’s self-defence, it’s a right granted to any individual and citizen. That’s why I’m exercising my right to explain my policies and reasoning as to why we did certain things,” the former prime minister told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

He was asked about former Supreme Council member Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz’s statement that he should dissociate himself from Umno and let Zahid lead the party.

Today, former Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin backed Nazri, urging Najib to distance himself from the party.

Pekan MP Najib said he backs Zahid as Umno president, and will give full cooperation to the latter.

“I’m also an MP, so occasionally, I will speak in Parliament because that’s my duty. I was voted in by the people.

“But as far as Umno’s administration is concerned, they are free to do as they deem fit, and I will support the decisions of the new leadership.”

Since losing power, Najib has frequently taken to Facebook to criticise the new government’s policies, such as scrapping the goods and services tax and replacing it with the sales and services tax, and the postponement of big-ticket projects he signed on as prime minister, like the East Coast Rail Link and Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail.

Najib said it is his right to defend himself and the administration he led.

“I will use that right to give clarifications on the past government’s policies. Especially when there’s manipulation of facts,” he said, citing the national debt figure and the alleged RM19 billion shortfall in GST refunds raised by the new government.

Najib is facing seven charges in relation to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1Malaysia Development Bhd. Three are for criminal breach of trust, three for money laundering and one for misusing his position.

Although he stepped down as Umno president following Barisan Nasional’s shock defeat in the 14th general election, Najib remains active in the party, and even campaigned for the BN candidate in the recently concluded Sungai Kandis by-election.

While some party leaders have called this a “mistake”, he has said he never intended to campaign, but was asked by candidate Lokman Noor Adam to do so.

“I was not keen to go down, but I was invited. On that reason, because he has stood by me, that’s why I decided to go down, but it was not my original plan.” – August 15, 2018.

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Comments

  • It means that your voice are no longer needed in Umno. Get it jibby?

    Posted 5 years ago by Will Be Humble · Reply

  • These kind of statements coming from a dead man walking does not remember that he insisted on the anti-fake news law to clamp down on dissenters voices. He is just buying himself some time b4 he is behind bars.

    Posted 5 years ago by Richard Foo · Reply

  • Just for a thought to consider. How does Najib feel now that he is powerless and will be facing imprisonment for all his crimes. All his yes men whom he has given something during his tenure are now asking him to get lost!!!. I am just wondering that if he is really regretting in trusting and believing what those guys that are leading him on with falsehood and lies but now are cold and dropped him like a ton of bricks when the going gets tough. It is a know fact that even within a triads or criminal of banditos the loyalty are expected eventho' there will be a few traitors and betrayer but still the camaraderies are given. The actions of the Umno leaders towards their ex captain speaks volume about the Umno party set up. They are just warlords without principle and integrity and behaving like pedestrian who have only self serving nature and will be quick to discard or sell off even their family members just to serve themselves well. Looking back when the old fox offered Najib his exits and if he had taken, he will now be enjoying the good life never ever he could dream of BUT he was led to think by all his false friends and sycophants that he is invinsible. God is fair !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Not proven guilty, the court might conclude?..

    Posted 5 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Dont worry Najib - Zahid is not interfering either! Zero leadership from him.

    Posted 5 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply

  • Get lost, lanun!

    Posted 5 years ago by Chee yee ng · Reply