Najib: Umno can do without self-serving warlords

(FMT) – Former Umno president Najib Razak, in an indirect attack on warlords in Umno, said the party would be better off without leaders who were loud in support of those in power but were willing to put down the party once the leader fell. 

“We only want those who will die with the party,” he said last night at a private dinner gathering with supporters at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur.

He said some Umno members holding positions would go so far as to trample on the party flag once the party lost power.

Some were loud to proclaim loyalty to the leadership, but such loyalty only lasted with power. Umno’s loss of power in the May general election was partly due to Umno members having lost sight of their principles and the party’s values, he said. 

Some only thought of how they could profit from their positions, they gave more thought to their factions, so much so they were willing to betray the party if they could not get what they wanted, Sinar Harian reported him as saying.

As such actions were done by those with positions, it was not surprising for Umno to be attacked by its political opponents as a party that has lost its traditional values, he said.

He urged Umno members to renew the party through self-reflection, through change within themselves. Only then would there be light at the end of the tunnel, he said.

Last night’s function was held by Persatuan kebajikan Insan Mulia and the Wanita Umno branch in Pulau Ketam. Najib was accompanied by his wife and children.