PM Najib: Past leaders must keep ‘ship’ afloat, not sink it

Najib Razak says this to former leaders who have been harsh critics of his leadership style.

MUAR: Former prime ministers who have been harsh critics of the government should realise that if they caused the “ship” to sink, everybody on the ship would sink with it, said Prime Minister Najib Razak.

He said that instead of being korek kapal (one who sinks ships), critics should instead be kapal korek (sand dredgers).

“We should instead be a kapal korek (sand dredger) which is helpful in removing sand out of a river,” he was quoted by The Star Online as saying as opposed to being someone who sank a ship because everyone else on the ship would sink with it too.

He made these comments at the launch of the Muar Umno headquarters on Sunday.

He also addressed the decision by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a relentless critic who has been hankering for his resignation, to attend the Bersih 4 rally in August although he did not specifically mention the former prime minister by name.

“Previously street demonstrations were illegal but now you made an appearances there (Bersih 4),” Najib said, adding that his critics should instead look at their own fault and “not only find fault in others”.

He said he was well aware of his responsibilities as the leader of the nation just as each prime minister before him had worked hard to make the country better.

He also said Umno leaders should “stop playing politics among themselves” and instead focus their energy on making the party stronger.