Don’t split over Zahid’s return, warns Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has warned Umno members against splitting the party further due to their unhappiness over the return of party chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to helm Umno.
“We must focus on unity efforts within Umno itself. Umno has to be united for the sake of the rakyat.
“Don’t split into camps,” he said during his speech at the Setiawangsa Umno division meeting at Flamingo Hotel this morning.
He told the members that those unhappy with Ahmad Zahid’s return should for the current party president to complete his term instead of creating chaos within Umno.
The party chief had taken garden leave six months ago following the mass exodus of Umno to Bersatu. Zahid is also facing 87 corruption related charges. Critics also slammed him for his lack of leadership.
It was then he let his deputy Mohamad Hasan to take charge of Umno.
Najib also dismissed the notion of different camps within the party.
“We must stop all this. Maybe this comes only from one or two people but when it gets on social media, it becomes a big deal. All I want is for Umno to unite for the sake of the rakyat.”
Johor Umno treasurer Md Jais Sarday claimed that there were four groups. One group wanted Umno to rise as a party that protects the rights of Islam and the Malays and another wants closer Umno-PAS collaboration.
The third group wants to throw its support behind PKR president Anwar Ibrahim as the next prime minister and the last one wants to reinforce the voice of the Malay community in the government.
Zahid, in December, claimed that Umno was split into five.
The first were those who wanted to maintain the status quo and not ally itself with any other parties.
The second and third factions wanted to join forces with two different parties: – PKR and Bersatu.
The fourth faction wanted Umno to join forces with PAS while the fifth wanted to form an entirely new grouping or grand coalition.
Najib indicated that he was for an Umno – PAS coalition.
“If tomorrow Parliament is dissolved, BN together with PAS can set up a new government.
“This is the true Malay-Muslim unity that will decide our future,” he said.
Despite that Najib assured that the interest of the non-Malays would be taken cared.
He also claimed that his transformation as “Bossku” has been gaining support from the people due to Pakatan Harapan government’s penchant for making U-turns instead of keeping up with their word.
“Why and how is it that the ‘Bossku’ movement has become so widely accepted by the rakyat and the youth?
“It’s because people now feel lied to. What PH said before the 14th general election last year is different from what it says today.”
