Najib has been accused without evidence, says former Jasa leader

Umno supreme council member Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz (above) will defend former premier Najib Abdul Razak until the latter is "truly" found guilty.

This is in line with the concept of “innocent until proven guilty”, he told Malaysiakini.

"When (we) were the government, we believed that Najib was not guilty. It is on the same basis that we are still defending him because he (Najib) has been accused without evidence.

"We have to hold on to the truth. Najib is innocent because there is no evidence, and that's the fact," he said when contacted.

Yesterday's revelation of the value of items seized from properties linked to Najib, would not dampen the Umno polls this weekend as Najib was no longer in the party's hierarchy, said the former Special Affairs Department (Jasa) strategic communication director.

In revealing the purported wealth of Najib's family, the police should take a neutral stance and not play perception games via the media, he opined.

At a press conference yesterday, the police said that the items seized from properties linked to Najib last month have been estimated to cost up to RM1.1 billion.

Umno does not need 'hasty' change

According to Faisal, although Umno is in need of change, it should not be done at the expense of the party's original struggle to uphold Islam, the Malay race and the bumiputera.

"If we understand the main factor (behind Umno's rejection in the 14th general election), we will not hurriedly suggest opening up Umno to other races. Umno has to stay true to its struggle.

"Basically, we do not have to change hastily transform Umno. There are a lot of people who can accept Umno (as it is).

"The people just lost trust in certain Umno leaders, not all. So these are the things that need to change. There are controversial leaders who issue statements which cause the people unease. There are arrogant ones. This is what needs to change. Not all, something is okay, some need to change," Faisal said, adding that Umno needs a clean, graft-free leader.

"Umno needs a clean leader, someone who is free from money politics. Someone who is willing to step up, and not play safe. The grassroots should consider these criteria when choosing the right candidate for the next three years."

The election for Umno's top leadership will take place this Saturday (June 30). It will involve about 150,000 delegates who will make their choice, which could be most crucial ever, following the party's crippling defeat in the May 9 general election.

The presidency will witness a three-way fight between Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and Khairy Jamaluddin, while the deputy presidency will have Annuar Musa clashing with Mohamad Hasan.

Seven candidates are vying for the vice-president's post while 106 candidates will contest for positions in the party's supreme council. -Mkini