IN DEFENDING NAJIB, UMNO MAN CLAIMS MALAYS LACK 'CIVILIZATION' COMPARED TO OTHER RACES

Federal Territories Umno Youth Chief Razlan Rafii has urged Dr Mahathir Mohamad to cease attacking Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

According to him, even Umno veterans share the same sentiment.

"He is past his time. When I met my father, who is a former division chief, and my mother, even they asked 'Why is Mahathir still talking? Let bygones be bygones.'

"Times have changed, and the way things are done aren't the same as in his time," Razlan told Malaysiakini during an interview yesterday.

He said Mahatir should leave Najib alone, and should not have interfered with his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration as well.

"He should have let Pak Lah (Abdullah) do his own thing, and after that Najib, and whoever comes after him. Don't disturb them," he said.

Razlan said everyone has their own style of leadership and weaknesses should not be turned into a huge issue.

Mahathir had played an instrumental role in forcing Abdullah, his handpicked successor, to resign following BN’s electoral setback in 2008.

This had paved the way for Najib to take over the reins as prime minister.

Razlan Rafii

However, Mahathir, who was at the helm for 22 years until 2003, has repeatedly called for Najib's resignation, and even accused the prime minister of committing theft.

Najib, on the other hand, has denied any wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, Razlan also disagreed with Mahathir's criticism concerning aid being extended to the Malays.

"First of all it's not aid, but something that will propel the Malays to better heights.

"And secondly, we are a very young culture compared to the other races, who inherited hundreds of years of civilisation before coming to Malaysia," he said.

The Umno Youth leader said while Mahathir was more than welcome to offer advice, he should avoid offending the Malays. - M'kini