Senior Umno leaders serving own agenda, says Shahrir of Najib critics

Six Barisan Nasional leaders (seated, from left) Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Tan Sri Sanusi Junid and Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat at the press conference on Monday, where they hit out at Putrajaya’s use of an anti-terror law against two 1MDB critics. – The Malaysian Insider pic, October 14, 2015.A senior Barisan Nasional federal lawmaker has accused a group of senior Umno leaders of serving their own agenda when they collectively voiced their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak earlier this week.

Barisan Nasional Backbencher Club (BNBBC) chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad, citing an example, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had previously raised various issues just to try and oust Najib.

This is also the same with a few other Umno leaders, including former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and veteran MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, more popularly known as Ku Li, who are dissatisfied with Najib’s leadership, he said.

“We cannot prevent them from doing anything because this group has its own interests, so some of this group interpret something according to their own interests.

“If Tun, it’s because he wants to put Najib in a difficult spot,” Shahrir said in reference to staunch Najib critic Dr Mahathir.

“Muhyiddin may have a certain objective, Ku Li another, so we have to understand their respective interests, it’s all according to their own interests and this is politics,” he was quoted as saying by the BNBBC.my news portal.

On Monday, Dr Mahathir led a group of seven senior Barisan Nasional leaders in criticising Putrajaya’s use of a new security law, the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), against government critics. 

The press conference was attended by Razaleigh, Muhyiddin, Shafie, former secretary-general Tan Sri Sanusi Junid and former MCA president Tan Sri Ong Tee Keat.

Another former MCA leader, former president Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik also backed the six, although he was absent from the press conference as he was overseas.

All seven leaders have been critical of Najib and his policies, including the current scandals engulfing the prime minister, namely the RM2.6 billion “donation” from an unknown Middle Eastern benefactor into his personal accounts while at the same time, his brainchild, state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is facing multiple probes over its alleged financial irregularities.

Shahrir said leaders like Muhyiddin and Shafie should know Najib better because the two Umno leaders have worked closely with the prime minister and Umno president before.

“They are closer to Najib compared with me. (They) should know and understand Najib, they were close. 

“It is hard if we do not trust our friends. Previously, they were fighting together, Shafie and Muhyiddin were from Team A. If Team A do not understand, why believe the talk from outsiders? Is it because someone wants to poke from outside?” he was further quoted as saying.

The Johor Baru MP said Najib knew what he was doing, saying it is impossible that the top leader did not love the party and was willing to see it destroyed.

He said Najib wanted the issue of 1MDB to be resolved as soon as possible, while the RM2.6 billion funds were not for his own use but for the party.

- TMI