Umno branches from five states want Najib out

Pressure piles on Umno president Najib Abdul Razak with 34 more Umno branches from five states calling for his resignation.

The brances from Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Johor, Perak and Sabah declared this in a meeting yesterday, Sinar Harian reported.

The branches unanimously called for Najib's resignation after losing confidence in the prime minister's leadership, it reported.

Taman Port Dickson Utama branch chief Mohd Isa Mohd Yasin said the branches supported and had high hopes for Najib when he took over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2009.

“However, what has happened goes against what we hoped for and more people are now doubtful of Umno,” he is quoted as saying.

“We also call on the party not to take any disciplinary action on the deputy president, vice president, division chiefs or any Umno member who criticises the party,” he said.

Mohd Isa claims he has support of close to 5,000 other branch chiefs nationwide and plans a mega rally on this at a yet-to-determined venue next month.

“We are confident of getting support from more than a fourth of Umno branches nationwide.

“We are not pushed by anyone but are doing this out of free will to reclaim the right to speak out for those who deserve it - branch chiefs and the grassroots members who can save the party,” he said.

Last month 13 Umno branch chiefs in Telok Kemang, Negri Sembilan called on Najib’s resignation while representatives of 20 branches in Sepang joined the call last week. -Mkini