Don't feel hurt, Zahid tells Najib as Umno leaders rain salvos

In the past 24 hours, Umno leaders have been raining salvos on their former president Najib Abdul Razak - but his successor's attempt to shield him appears to be in vain.

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby this afternoon, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed hope that Najib does not feel hurt.

“I hope he is not hurt or affected by such opinions.

“I also hope that he won't feel emotionally distraught and will undergo the court process with calmness and fortitude,” he said.

Yesterday, Zahid said Najib should be respected despite having relinquished his posts as BN and Umno chairperson, and Umno leaders must not stomp on someone who is down.

This was in response to former minister Johari Abdul Gani stating that Najib should not have been allowed to campaign in the run-up to last week's Sungai Kandis by-election.

Johari said the former prime minister's corruption cases could taint Umno's image.

Meanwhile, Umno secretary-general Annuar Musa was more forthright, describingNajib as a “baggage” that the party could ill-afford to bear.

Annuar said Umno shout not “waste its time” in defending Najib and instead concentrate its efforts on rebuilding the party.

The former prime minister is facing a total of seven charges related to money laundering and criminal breach of trust. 

[More to follow] -Mkini