New Straits Times

‘NEW FORMULA NEEDED TO SOLVE UMNO CRISIS’

This is to prevent the situation from worsening in the party, says Najib

- AMIN RIDZUAN ISHAK PEKAN cnews@nstp.com.my

UMNO needs a new formula to resolve the party crisis amid mounting calls for party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to step down.

Zahid’s predecesso­r, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, proposed the need for a new formula to prevent the situation from becoming worse.

The former prime minister also believed that Zahid would come up with the best solution to end the crisis.

“Umno needs to come up with a formula and exit plan as the crisis is very serious,” said the Pekan member of parliament at a community programme at Sungai Miang jetty here yesterday.

Najib was asked to comment on calls for Zahid to resign as Umno president in the wake of the mass resignatio­n of MPs, senators and assemblyme­n.

Former domestic trade, cooperativ­es and consumeris­m minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin and five other MPs announced their decision to quit the party on Friday.

Their resignatio­ns came after several Umno MPs and assemblyme­n in Sabah announced their decision to quit the party on Wednesday.

Hamzah cited loss of confidence in Zahid’s leadership and warned of further defections.

Najib urged Umno leaders and members to remain calm and spare no effort to save the party, which had made major contributi­ons to the nation and people.

“Umno must remain as a political entity as the strength of the party still exists, which is the fighting spirit of three million members from 22,000 branches.”

 ?? ASYRAF SAWAL PIC BY MUHAMMAD ?? Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak greeting residents at the Sungai Miang jetty in Pekan yesterday.
ASYRAF SAWAL PIC BY MUHAMMAD Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak greeting residents at the Sungai Miang jetty in Pekan yesterday.

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