We want to know why Dr M wants Najib out, Umno branch says

(Malay Mail Online) – An Umno branch today announced that it will host Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad at a high-tea event this Saturday to have the former prime minister explain why he wants to oust party president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Pusat Bandar Taman Cempaka Umno branch chief Syed Saifuddin Syed Harman was quoted by news portal Malaysiakini as saying that they decided to hold the event as they want to know what “possible discrepancies within the Umno leadership which need to be fixed”.

“No other branch is willing to step forward in this political and leadership crisis. I am taking this initiative to give a statesman like Tun (Mahathir) to explain to the people.

“He is an Umno icon. Like it or not, he is still popular among youths and the grassroots,” he was quoted as saying.

Syed Saifuddin, whose branch comes under the Umno Pandan division, claimed that division chief Datuk Mohd Haniff Koslan has no objections to the event and does not expect any disciplinary action from Umno headquarters.

Syed Saifuddin stressed that Najib and top party leaders have already made their rounds explaining the prime minister’s position, and that it is only fair that Dr Mahathir be given a chance to say his piece.

“Not everything that he (Dr Mahathir) says will be accepted, but we will be able to make better judgement on what he is saying and what the Umno leadership is saying.

“As Umno members and citizen of Malaysia, we will only be able to return the people’s trust in Umno after making our own judgements,” Syed Saifuddin said.

Dr Mahathir has been Najib’s harshest critic over the past year, chiefly over his former protege’s handling of the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) fiasco.

Earlier this year, Najib went on a nationwide tour meeting grassroots members to counter Dr Mahathir’s attacks on his leadership and administration.