Reject leader from the past, says Najib

Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak calls on Malaysians to support Umno, a party that will remain relevant, and reject “a leader from the past”.

Alluding to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Najib said the Pakatan Harapan chairman lacked the capabilities to carry the nation forward.

“If you want a party of the future, you cannot accept someone from the past. It is illogical. He doesn’t represent the future.

“A man from the past will bring ideas of the past into the future,” said Najib in his winding-up speech at the end of the threeday Umno general assembly here yesterday.

Malaysians, he said, wanted a government that could draw up new ideas and adapt to the changing economic landscape.

He said Barisan Nasional, with Umno as its lynchpin, had succeeded in this aspect by establishing the Digital Free Trade Zone.

“If we want to be rich, and if we want Malays to progress, we need to leap and move ahead quickly.

“That is why we established a strong relationship with China, Japan, India and Saudi Arabia.”

The prime minister said the country continued to enjoy positive economic development, thanks to Umno’s struggles.

“And, hopefully, by next year, (Saudi) Aramco will invest US$7 billion (RM28.7 billion) in our country,” he said, adding that more Malaysians could perform the haj thanks to Malaysia’s healthy relationship with Saudi Arabia.

Pakatan Harapan last week proposed Dr Mahathir, who is also Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman, to be prime minister should the pact win the 14th General Election.

Najib also trained his guns on DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, who had been accused by a disgruntled DAP leader of aspiring to be prime minister.

“I heard that Lim is interested in becoming the prime minister. But DAP’s (one-term) Jawi assemblyman left the party because he said Lim was a dictator who ruled with an iron fist.”

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in his winding-up speech, praised Najib for adopting a consultative leadership style, contrary to a “previous leader’s” authoritarian style.

Without naming anyone, Zahid, who is carrying out the duties of Umno deputy president, congratulated Najib for tearing down the walls that had divided the party and for uniting Umno members.

“I must commend the president (Najib) for his consultative leadership and for changing the perception that the ‘government knows best’.

“The current government is open to suggestions.

“This is contrary to the authoritarian leadership practised by a former leader who held all the power.”