'Umno grassroots told to sign declaration supporting Najib'

Selangor Umno grassroots leaders are now being directed to sign a declaration supporting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's leadership, claimed a party branch leader.

Teratai Umno branch chief Hashim Abdul Karim said his branch had just received the written declaration prepared by Umno Selangor.

He said some 5,000 branch chiefs throughout Selangor are understood to have signed the declaration supporting Najib as the prime minister and the party president.

Hashim revealed this while speaking at an event discussing current affairs in Shah Alam last night, together with Umno vice-president Mohd Shafie Apdal.

He claimed that members in his branch had unanimously rejected the declaration.

“We from the Teratai branch unanimously reject the declaration that supports Najib's leadership as Umno president and prime minister of Malaysia,” he said, drawing applause from the audience.

Thursday last week, the Kelantan Umno leadership had signed a declaration pledging undivided support for Najib.

Meanwhile, Hashim said he hopes each party president would bring the party to new heights especially during elections, just as the Umno presidents before them had done.

However, this is no longer the case, according to Hashim.

Instead, he said, grassroots members have been exposed to so many negative stories about the party president's leadership that they felt they have been made a fool by the party leadership, which supposedly champions the Malays.

“We are not stupid, blind, nor deaf. Prior to this, I had reminded that the people will raise issues with Altantuya's murder, the diamond rings, the Scorpene submarines, and now we have the 1MDB too.

“Before the 1MDB issue is settled, questions are raised regarding the RM2.6 billion donation that we are all aware of,” Hashim (photo) said.

He questioned on why Najib has yet to sue those accusing him of wrongdoing, if it is true that the prime minister is not involved.

“In our legal system, there is already enough for us to take action against those who slander us.

“But if we keep quiet, that slander would appear real. If I were Najib, I would sue. If it is a lie because we didn't do anything, what is there to be afraid of?” he asked.

Don't sign it

Hashim challenged any branch leaders who have yet to sign the declaration support Najib not to sign it.

“This is not about the opposition, because there are people from Umno, NGOs, ordinary citizens who want Najib to resign.

“Anyone can sign (the Citizens' Declaration), even the people in mosques, not because we are angry but because we love our party, and love our country even more,” he added

Hashim said he is confident that more people would support the Citizens' Declaration, which is being championed by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, opposition leaders, and civil society groups.

“I hope those who have yet to hear of this news will know about it after the alternative media reports about it,” he said.

It is understood that the Kota Raja Umno division chief did not attend last night's event due to differences in opinion with Hashim, but there is purportedly no restrictions from him. -Mkini