Najib: I’m partly responsible for Umno’s failure in GE14

PEKAN: Former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has admitted that he is partly responsible the party's failure to win the 14th General Election.

Najib said while it was true that Umno came under attack by Pakatan Harapan during the elections, the party’s weaknesses also stemmed from its own members and leaders at all levels.

“We all made mistakes, including myself,” he said.

“Even though I accepted moral responsibility and stepped down as party president, the fact is there were shortcomings at all levels of the party,” he said at the opening of the Pekan Umno meeting yesterday.

Najib said it was all right for him to resign as the leader of the party but urged everyone else to correct the mistakes.

He called on party members to return to the basis of Umno’s struggle, which demanded members to make sacrifices and be humble.

“There should no longer be money politics. We have to choose the best leaders for the party now and not because of benefits.

“We have to change our culture, attitude, values and approach in order to be respected by the people once again,” he said, adding that this was perhaps a test by God to see Umno change its ways.

Najib, who retained his position as Pekan Umno chief unchallenged, added that as a result of Umno and Barisan Nasional’s fall, its members now had to face tough challenges in the coming years.

“We have to suffer excessive actions such as the move to freeze the accounts of Umno and certain Barisan parties. If they want to investigate, go ahead but why do they need to freeze Umno’s accounts?

“Whatever it is, Umno is not guilty. If an individual is guilty, take action against them. Don’t do it to a political party.

“A party has members and functions in a democratic system. We have responsibilities to the people.

“We didn't form the party for fun. We have duties and have to run our divisions and branches,” Najib said.