Umno must not allow itself to be used as a party to protect the interests of a "few" under the guise of "loyalty or discipline", the Johor menteri besar said today, becoming the first state Umno chief to react publicly to yesterday's clearance by the anti-graft body over the RM2.6 billion in the prime minister's bank accounts.
In a Facebook posting today, Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said Umno cannot keep quiet if "corruption becomes a culture or trust is betrayed".
"Umno cannot keep quiet when the party no longer champions the cause of Malays but is instead used to defend a few under the name of loyalty or discipline in adhering to leaders," he wrote.
"Umno can no longer stand by as an observer. The time has come for Umno to move forward, to be more proactive and dominant," he added.
Khaled's remarks come a week after Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was sacked as deputy prime minister for questioning Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's handling of debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Khaled was among the first senior party leaders to urge party grassroots to respect Muhyiddin despite his sacking, as he was still Umno deputy president.
Yesterday, the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed that some RM2.6 billion was transferred to Najib's bank accounts, but said the money was from donors.
Khaled was also present during Muhyiddin's audience with the Johor sultan, Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar, last Sunday.
Khaled made the remarks even as other Umno leaders spoke in defence of Najib.
Newly-promoted minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman had said that the RM2.6 billion in Najib's accounts was not a big issue.
After the MACC's announcement last night, Barisan Nasional (BN) strategic communications director, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, tweeted that "many on Twitter were hoodwinked" by those who said that the prime minister had stolen from 1MDB and the people, referring to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) which first reported the allegation, website Sarawak Report and opposition politicians.
Today, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said it was not a crime for Najib to receive political donations and hold them in trust for Umno.
-TMI
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