Najib mistaken assistance for loyalty, says Dr Mahathir

© Provided by The Malaysian Insider Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the Umno president asks for assistance but instead interpret it as loyalty. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, December 16, 2015.In speaking about assistance from his deputy, vice-presidents and members in Umno, Datuk Seri Najib Razak interpreted assistance as loyalty, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.

The former prime minister, writing in his blog, said what Najib meant by this was for the party to do as he says.

“So it means that party members at all levels should not think for themselves, they need not contribute, but when asked to come, they must turn up and when asked to go, they must leave.

“And if the president says ruin the party, so it must be done.

“So no questioning, no reprimand and no objections.

“This is the policy of the party president,” Dr Mahathir said.

In his opening speech at the Umno general assembly on December 10, Najib reminded the party's deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that his duty was to assist the president in his duties.

He also directed the same reminder to party vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.

Both Muhyiddin and Shafie were dropped from the Cabinet in July for publicly criticising Najib over his handling of debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Dr Mahathir today said action would also be taken against those who defied orders or pointed fingers at the faults of the president, including suspension or sacking them from the party.

"I was not only questioned by the police but the restrictions imposed on me was far worse than that imposed on opposition leaders.

"All the halls were off-limits to me to the point that I was not able to meet or speak to anyone in Umno or the public.

"The hotel was warned that if I was allowed to speak at any of the halls, they would not get government business," he wrote.

Noting that Muhyiddin was not allowed to officiate any of the Umno meetings and was removed as deputy prime minister while Shafie was not allowed to speak after he was sacked as minister, Dr Mahathir said: “Is this the attitude of the so-called big hearted gentleman?”

“This is more akin to a boss who ties the hands of his enemies in order to beat them up.”

He said previously, it was common to challenge the president and critics were free to speak anywhere.

"Not anymore," Dr Mahathir added.