Nazri joins chorus of leaders asking Umno to distance itself from Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: Padang Rengas member of parliament Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz yesterday said Umno should distance itself from former party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The former tourism minister said Najib should take a back seat and let his successor, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, drive Umno forward.

“It is difficult (for Umno) as he (Najib) has yet to let us free. It’s like we are being shadowed by him.

“Umno should disassociate with Najib so that the new president can lead the party.

“It is not about being loyal to the party, but about our love for the party,” he said at the Parliament lobby.

Nazri was responding to question on calls by several Umno leaders for the party to distance itself from the former prime minister.

He said Najib should follow the footsteps of Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, also known as Pak Lah, who kept their distance from Umno after they handed over the presidency.

“I believe that Dr Mahathir and Pak Lah love the party, therefore, they kept their distance, afraid that any stigma against them would affect the party.

“So, if Najib loves Umno, he should do the same.”

He said Zahid, as the new party president, should be given the space to lead the party.

“Of course, it will not be easy for Zahid to say so.”

He said as Najib had been charged and was facing trial, it would affect the party.

“He used to be our boss, but he must also understand (the situation). Don’t wait until we have to tell him (to step aside).”

On Dr Mahathir, Nazri said he always supported his leadership.

“He used to be the prime minister before and he is the prime minister again, so we have to support him.

“I do not have a record of going against the prime minister and it is not my culture (to do so).”