Listen to Dr M’s advice, Umno grassroots tell Najib

While support for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak remains strong among the Umno grassroots, the party president would do well to heed the concerns raised by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, grass-roots leaders of the Malay-based party said.

They told The Malaysian Insider there were grouses among members over Najib’s “soft” stance towards his opponents, but added the sentiment was not strong enough for a call to replace the prime minister.

“I think Dr Mahathir was right, Najib is too soft. And in this day and age, if you let sensitive issues fester without reigning it in, it would be very bad for everyone.

“Whether he likes it or not, he must be swift and firm,” said Umno Taman Melur branch chief Mohd Aznam Mohd Zin.

“And if he continues like this, it’s not entirely impossible for him to have to step down. So he has to make changes, and not allow this to go on like what happened with Pak Lah,” he added, referring to Najib’s predecessor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In a blog post yesterday, Dr Mahathir declared he was with withdrawing his support for Najib, adding that the prime minister was performing worse than Abdullah.

Dr Mahathir said his criticism had fallen on deaf ears, and blamed Najib’s administration for worsening inter-racial ties, the economy, and the country’s finances.

But Aznam was quick to say that Umno members still overwhelmingly supported Najib, and he interpreted Dr Mahathir’s blog post as just criticism.

“For me, there is nothing wrong with criticising Najib, because even I as a leader notice the growing tension over issues of insults.

“As far as I know, Dr Mahathir was not withdrawing his support but just reproaching him. Even the blog post is titled ‘Criticism’ (Menegur).”

Umno Cheras division leader Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee also attempted to soften the blow of Dr Mahathir’s post and likened it to the scolding a father would give to his son.

“If there are criticisms, it is not a sign of hatred but a reminder to improve the party and administration of the government. If Dr Mahathir did not love Najib, he would not have made such criticisms,” he wrote on his blog.

But he urged Najib and all Umno leaders to accept the former prime minister’s views with an open heart, saying: “When a father like Dr Mahathir gives out such a reminder or criticism, there must surely be a lesson there.”

He also agreed with Dr Mahathir’s views that people below Najib may not give him an accurate depiction of the situation, as they were too eager to win him over.

“Those who have positions in the party and government should give their sincere views to the prime minister.”

BN Youth executive secretary Zaidel Baharuddin told The Malaysian Insider that Dr Mahathir’s views were reflected among some members of the party.

“There are definitely some people who are unhappy. And there is a concern over what Dr Mahathir said, and that he had to openly say it himself. So Najib would have to take this into account.

“But is the unhappiness strong enough to remove him? No.

“It not the same as what happened with Pak Lah, or even what is happening to Hadi Awang,” he said, referring to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang.

But, Datuk Rizuan Abdul Hamid, the Umno Kepong division chief, dismissed Dr Mahathir’s criticisms outright, and said he was confused by the former prime minister’s words.

“I have no problem with Najib. He is a firm leader and has conducted himself well, especially in light of MH17 and MH370.

“We should give Najib a chance. It’s fine to criticise him if he’s doing badly, but he is actually improving by the day.”

Rizuan added that Dr Mahathir’s own premiership was fraught with challenges, and as a veteran leader he should lend his full support to Najib.

“He is not a prime minister anymore, he should support Najib. Before, he criticised Pak Lah, and now he is doing the same to Najib. Just let them do their work.”

Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor today played down Dr Mahathir’s blog post, and reiterated their support for their party president.

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