Appoint Najib as chief to strengthen BN, says Jamal

Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos has backed a purported call for Pekan MP Najib Abdul Razak to be reappointed as BN chief, a position he held as then prime minister and Umno president.

Malay-daily Sinar Harian quoted Jamal (photo) as saying that the move to reappoint Najib is relevant to help "strengthen Umno and BN" and regain public confidence ahead of the next general election.

"This is my view; Najib must be appointed as BN chairperson to strengthen BN," said the controversial politician who noted that Najib only has a minimum role in his current position as BN's advisory board chairperson.

"Although traditionally the Umno president will be BN chief, but now we see, and I'm not saying the (current) Umno president is a failure, this move is to strengthen the president and so Najib can assist the president.

"This (appointment) can be done. The president (Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) can then focus on Umno's internal matters, to strengthen and bolster Umno," Jamal told Sinar Harian.

Meanwhile, the Malay-daily also quoted former Umno Lembah Pantai chief Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin (photo), who had served as federal territories minister under Najib's administration, as disagreeing with Jamal's call.

"To me, let those with party positions such as the president, deputy president, vice-president and others carry out their responsibilities because this is the hierarchy in Umno.

"Najib can contest when the time comes," said Raja Nong Chik.

"When the next (party) election comes, after he (Najib) has gone through his cases in court, he is certainly eligible to contest.

"Not only is he eligible, but he has the right to contest," added the senior politician.

The BN supreme council had appointed Najib - who is facing 42 charges of money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust - to head the coalition's advisory board in July last year, slightly over a year after its historic loss in the last general election.

At the time, several Umno leaders including Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz had described the move as "regressive" and not good for the party. - Mkini