Najib’s fate up to Umno if BN does not improve in polls, says Dr M

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 31 – It is up to Umno members to decide if Datuk Seri Najib Razak should step aside if Barisan Nasional (BN) fails to get a stronger mandate in Election 2013, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

But the former prime minister (picture), a staunch supporter of the administration, said Najib was unfortunately faced with the disadvantage of inheriting a weak government headed by Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“I think he’s trying to do better than Tun Abdullah. And I think he can,” Dr Mahathir added.

Dr Mahathir said it was his personal opinion that Najib should give way to Deputy Umno president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin if BN only scores a slim majority in the elections.

“If he fails, he should move of course,” Dr Mahathir told reporters during the 15th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference here.

However, he said that the decision ultimately lies with party members to decide the fate of their president.

In a luncheon address earlier today, Dr Mahathir has described Najib’s administration as weaker from the previous ones due to a slim majority in the last elections.

As a result, Najib’s administration has to resort to meeting demands and delivering handouts in order to satisfy every parties, he said.

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