Instigators, opportunists fuelling Dr M-Najib spat, says Umno man

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (left) and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak have been at loggerheads over many issues concerning Malaysia and Umno. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, May 18, 2015.

The "cold war" between Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will not end as long as there continue to be instigators and opportunists, an Umno man said today.

"These are the people who are trying to destroy the image of Umno. They are fuelling the fire between both leaders over issues that were raised by interested parties," said Umno Cheras division chairman Datuk Seri Syed Ali Alhabshee.

In a blog posting today, Syed Ali said the spat between the two seemed like a planed effort to cause disunity among the Malays in the country.

"I am very worried that there are strategies to destroy the Malays and the weapon is by using Dr Mahathir against Najib," he said.

According to him, although Najib had answered all accusations raised by Dr Mahathir, the answers would not satisfy those who wanted to see continued disunity in the party.

"These opportunists and instigators feel happy seeing Dr Mahathir attack Najib as they have an agenda to destroy Umno," he said.

He added that there were certain groups which were willing to hold gatherings by inviting Dr Mahathir for talks where they attacked Najib's leadership.

"We were informed that Dr Mahathir will go on a road show. It is believed the motive is to smear Najib, which is not a nice thing to do," he said.

This is why, Syed Ali said, Umno members had to be careful so that they did not become trapped by such "movements", urging all Malays to unite for the interests of Umno and the future of the race.

Among Umno members, he said, the interests of the party and the people should be prioritised rather than personal agendas.

He said every leader had their own leadership style and every one of them had a different approach.

"Dr Mahathir had his own way for 22 years and Najib, too, has his own style, including Pak Lah (Tun Abdullah Badawi), so there is no need to make a comparison," he said.

What was important, he said, was that Najib has proven to be a prime minister and an Umno president whose struggle was based on the people's interests.

"As president, he has been successful in bringing a push towards the strengthening of the party and as leader of the government, the interests of the people has always been prioritised," he said.

He added that Najib continued to command the support of the people as well as all Umno leaders and members.

At the same time, Syed Ali said, Umno members also respected Dr Mahathir as a former president of the party and prime minister who had contributed a lot to the country.

However, he also expressed worry that the respect the people had for Dr Mahathir would diminish if the retired statesman continued his attack on Najib.

"Najib has explained the 13 issues brought up by Dr Mahathir. I hope the former prime minister will be satisfied.

"It is hoped that Dr Mahathir can accept Najib's explanation, which many feel was honest and transparent," he said.

Amid a continued onslaught of criticism in his second term, the prime minister yesterday took to his website to refute some of the key accusations made by his benefactor-turned-detractor Dr Mahathir, who has called for Najib's resignation.

In the FAQ section of his blog, the Umno president listed 13 issues and claims hurled at him and his administration, from the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu to the use of government jets and Barisan Nasional winning the next general election.

Najib also responded to allegations surrounding debt-laden state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) by imploring his critics to wait for the results of the auditor-general’s investigation.

Syed Ali warned that the cold war between the former and present prime ministers would not benefit Umno and the Malays, but that the people would be caught up by the negative perception which would negatively impact Umno.

He said no-one would benefit if Umno leaders continued to tear each other apart and that in fact, it would erode the confidence of the Malays towards the party and the government.

“I believe Dr Mahathir also does not want Umno to be extinct and lose the support of the Malays, so that is why I hope that the ongoing crisis will be resolved as a family,” he said.

- TMI