Najib steps down as BN chairman, Umno president

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday relinquished his positions as Umno president and Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman with effect immediately following the poor performance of the BN in the 14th general election (GE14).

He disclosed this at a media conference after a meeting of the Umno political bureau at the party headquarters, here yesterday.

“Taking into consideration the current situation, and in view of the severe losses suffered by Umno and the BN (in GE14), I as the Umno president and BN chairman decided to step down from both positions.

“This is because according to principles, whoever heads a party and the party fails in the general election, the moral responsibility must be fully accepted by the person concerned,” he said.

Najib said the political bureau also agreed that Umno vicepresident Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi carry out the duties of the party president while Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, also an Umno vicepresident, carried out the duties of Umno deputy president and BN deputy chairman.

He also gave his assurance that he would not leave the party.

The GE14 saw the 60year dominance of the BN in administering the country ended when the coalition won only 79 out of the 222 parliamentary seats. The BN also lost power in states such as Kedah, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Johor and Sabah.