I saved Umno after 1987 de-registration, says Najib

Umno president Najib Abdul Razak today reminded his current number one adversary Dr Mahathir Mohamad how he had ‘saved’ Umno after it was de-registered in 1987.

Pointing out how “80 percent” of the party had opposed Mahathir’s leadership, the one who saved Umno was its Youth wing which he then headed, claimed the PM.

“Umno Youth held a meeting, where I submitted thousands of new memberships to Mahathir.

“That was the start of history for Umno Baru where it was finally able to be developed.

“If not, Umno Baru would have perished, what the whites say- ‘stillborn’. But because of the Youth wing’s contribution, Umno was saved,” said Najib in his speech at an event held tonight to commemorate his 40 years involvement in politics.

Umno Baru was formed in 1988 after Umno was declared illegal following a court ruling. In the preceeding 1987 party elections, Umno was split into two teams and Mahathir won the party presidency by a narrow margin.

His victory, however, left his challenger Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah unsatisfied and the latter then left and formed splinter party Semangat 46. Events following the schism later led to the de-registration.

I only want to serve the rakyat, the religion and the country

Meanwhile, commenting on his 40 years of political experience, Najib admitted that they were filled with both good and bad experiences.

Nevertheless, he believes that no profession could rival that of the profession of a politician if one’s intention is to help the rakyat as well as to change the country's future.

“That's why I consider the profession of a politician as a profession that has many specialties," he said.

Doctors may cure the sick and engineers may build bridges, said Najib, but politicians have the ability to change the future of the race, religion, as well as the country.

Najib admitted that he was at a crossroads when he contemplated of joining politics after his father’s death in 1976.

“Many told me that I was too young and that I should wait.

“But I said it’s okay, because my intention was none other than to serve the rakyat, the religion and the country.

“If I didn't have the capability […], either the party will reject me or the rakyat will,” he said.

Najib won the Pekan parliamentary seat unopposed in 1976 after the seat was left vacant due to his father’s death.

Then only a 23-year-old, Najib also became the youngest deputy minister when he was appointed the deputy minister of energy, telecommunications and post two years later and was later the youngest menteri besar, sworn-in at the age of 29.

But such accolades and purported heroics in saving Umno Baru aside, Najib may yat also hold the distinction of being the first Umno president to lose a General Election, as he continue to face dissent from within and without.

Though Najib is busy shoring up his support by purging the party of critics, as well as putting the screws on those speaking out against him, using restrictive laws the are the legacy of the British, as well as some new ones of his own recent fashioning. -Mkini