Dr M’s warning: Malays doomed if Umno loses

© Provided by The Malay Mail Online Mahathir said defeat was inevitable with Najib leading the party. — Picture by Saw Siow FengKUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — The Malay community will lose all its protections if Umno falls in the next general election, according to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who said defeat was inevitable with Datuk Seri Najib Razak leading the party.

Continuing to press for Najib’s resignation as prime minister, Dr Mahathir said his estimates indicate that Najib would steer Umno towards defeat in the next general election, stripping the Malays of the safeguards they have enjoyed since Independence.

“I did my own calculation and the result was if he continues to lead Umno then the party will lose... and if we lose then I am afraid that will be the last of the Malays, the last time we see Malay interests and Islam protected,” he told a townhall meeting organised by Malay Unity for Islam Movement.

Dr Mahathir, however, did not explain whom or what the Malays needed protection from nor did he specify what safeguards he was referring to.

The former prime minister said while the Malays are urged to unite behind Umno, they cannot turn a blind eye and offer absolute loyalty to a leader perceived to be corrupt.

Dr Mahathir said that rumours about Najib’s wealth are spreading fast and that the latter’s failure to convincingly refute them would leave Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) vulnerable.

“We can see he has a very wealthy lifestyle. On top of that, we know that billions of ringgit have been lost. Because of that we can see those who used to support BN now vote against it.

“What happened? We used to be supported by all the races. But not anymore,” he said.

Dr Mahathir then went on to point out that Najib fared poorer than Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whom he replaced after BN to lost its parliamentary supermajority for the first time since 1969 in Election 2008.

“He did worse. When you change a leader you are supposed to perform better. But instead he did worse”.

BN lost a seven more seats under Najib in Election 2013, but the Umno president maintained that he performed better as his party added nine more seats to become the dominant force in BN.

Dr Mahathir has been pushing openly for Najib’s resignation, saying latter’s refusal to address allegations such as those surrounding 1 Malaysia Development Bhd and the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu put BN’s rule at risk. -MM