KUALA LUMPUR 10/05/2018. Najib Razak with Zahid Hamidi leave after giving a press conference at PWTC MALAYMAIL/Azneal Ishak.
KUALA LUMPUR: There have been calls of late for former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to play a bigger role in the party rather than just being the ordinary member that he is.
This does seem a little odd, especially when they are not being made only by those in Umno, but also by external parties.
Two days ago, a pro-Umno non-governmental organisation, Persatuan Sahabat Ulul Amri Malaysia (PSUAM), proposed that Najib be made one of the two Umno chairmen, with the other being veteran Gua Musang member of parliament Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is chairman of Umno’s council of advisers.
PSUAM maintained that with the addition of the new executive positions, Najib and Tengku Razaleigh can help party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi strengthen the party.
In September, a number of grassroots leaders, including Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos, called for Najib to be made Umno’s de facto leader. The idea, of course, got shot down before it gathered any momentum.
A party insider told the New Sunday Times that a move was being orchestrated by some quarters for Najib to make a comeback .
“But this is not what Najib wished for. He does not want to be party president or the prime minister, but some of those close to him refuse to accept this,” he said, adding that those controlling the agenda to return him to power had placed “all that they have ” in terms of money and influence to ensure that it was achieved.
A source said Najib was seen as a “safety net” for those who believed that once he was back in power, they could get away with any criminal charges.
A source said Zahid is “very upset and angry”, not with Najib, but with those behind the plan to overthrow him as president and to return Najib to power.
“He was heard saying that he had done so much for Najib and his family and that this particular person is causing problems in the party to save himself,” the source said.
The party, however, is split in the call for Najib to be given a position in the party.
A handful of party leaders and Umno members of parliament said it would disrupt the party’s rejuvenation and renewal efforts.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said the party needed to move forward and strive to be free from corruption and abuse of power.
“Don’t entrap ourselves in the polemics of structure, but instead, focus on the people’s interest.
“A lot of things need to be done, especially if we want to become a strong opposition and to regain the people’s trust in the next general election.
“What has happened is in the past and we have to open a new chapter. Umno has to see itself as a new party with a new image, one with integrity and morality… because at the end of the day, the people have decided (in the 14th General Election) and they have punished us.
“Umno’s image is tainted. It has to return to its roots as a custodian of Islam and Bumiputera and Malay rights.
“We have to project the true teachings of Islam and we know Islam does not condone these abuses,” he said, adding that he was optimistic of Umno making a comeback .
He, however, saw no problem in Najib strengthening the party as an ordinary member.
An Umno MP, who wished to remain anonymous, questioned the need for a chairman — two chairmen in fact — and two deputy chairmen, as suggested by PSUAM.
“Why is there a need for a chairman when we already have a president? The party does not even have provisions for it. We are not like PKR and we don’t need to be like them,” he said.
PSUAM had suggested that Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein be named deputy chairman 1 and Khairy Jamaluddin as deputy chairman 2.
The veteran MP said it would be wrong to return Najib to power as it would only dampen efforts to renew the party.
“He is not needed in the party. I don’t want to be harsh here, but the focus is for the party to become better and it will not happen with him in there,” he said.
Some Umno Supreme Council members contacted by NSU said Najib should just focus on his court cases.
“Nobody denies that he has given a lot to Malaysia and Umno, but at times like this, the only thing he should be doing is to focus on what is in front of him,” one said.
Another said Najib should not be wasting his time with Umno. “Najib is like a celebrity. Everyone wants to take a photo with him, but what is the point (of all that) if you cannot get their votes (in the general election)?”
Supreme Council member Khaidhirah Abu Zahar welcomed the idea of Najib, Tengku Razaleigh, Hishammuddin and Khairy each playing a role in the party, but she questioned the purpose of creating new posts within the party’s structure.
“We already have a president, deputy president and more than enough supreme council members and the leadership structure covers all wings, divisions and branches. What is the purpose of creating these posts? The system is already in place,” she said.
Khaidhirah, who is better known as Dira, said it would be a better idea for Najib to opt for a place in the advisory council, where he could share his ideas and views officially with the party.
This, she said, would be a better option as it would not only strengthen the party, but also avoid unnecessary amendments to the party constitution.
NST
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