malaysia

Be loyal to Umno, Ku Nan tells members as Dr Mahathir works to oust Najib

March 13, 2016

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor says its members must be loyal to the leadership and not allow the party to ‘sink the ship from within’. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, March 13, 2016.Umno members have been told to be loyal to the party leadership, The New Straits Times Online reported today.

Party secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor told Shah Alam Umno members at a gathering to unite and not “sink the ship from within”.

He reminded the members that there was a system, and prime minister and party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak was chosen through that system.

“So why destroy the institution? Don't be someone who wants to drag everyone down,” he reportedly told the gathering.

Tengku Adnan was referring to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was now out to get Najib removed from office.

The longest-serving prime minister had been Najib’s biggest and harshest critic since the 1Malaysia Development Berhad controversy surfaced and were linked to him.

Dr Mahathir, who recently quit Umno in protest, is now leading the Save Malaysia movement aimed to oust Najib as prime minister. He also recently initiated the Citizens’ Declaration, which has the same objective.

The movement and declaration are both supported by several Umno members, who are Najib critics; and leaders from opposition parties and civil groups.

They are now working towards getting a million signatures for a petition to pressure Najib to resign.

Tengku Adnan said he recently met both Dr Mahathir and former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was recently suspended as Umno deputy president following his continuous criticisms against Najib.

He said he pleaded with them to stop what they were doing against Najib, but they were arrogant.

“But they are arrogant. Had they not been arrogant, all these would not have happened,” he was quoted as saying.

Tengku Adnan also told party members to organise more people-centric programmes.

“Go down to the ground and be closer to the people. Explain to them what is happening and get them to join Umno or support Umno. Don't organise ‘syok sendiri’ (self-glorifying) events.

“Umno Selangor needs to rise and we must wrest back the state government. We are the ones who developed the state not those people,” he was quoted as saying. – March 13, 2016.