Najib: King Salman Centre will benefit M’sia
FORMER premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak still believes that the King Salman Centre for International Peace (KSCIP) project axed by the Pakatan Harapan government would benefit Malaysia.
He was asked to comment on the project cancellation in light of the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, which has received intense international scrutiny and criticism.
“The centre was meant for regional peace and security. We could still control the centre from here.
“In that sense, I regret the cancelling of the centre, I still believe that the centre would be good for Malaysia.
“If there’s anything that’s counter to our interest, we could still make the necessary intervention,” Najib told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.
The previous government’s plan to build the Saudi-backed KSCIP on a 16ha plot of land in Putrajaya was cancelled by the Pakatan government.
He, however, did not comment on the death of Khashoggi, a columnist with the Washington Post who went missing after visiting the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on Oct 2.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Monday condemned the killing of the government critic, labelling it as an act of extreme cruelty.
Turkish officials believe Khashoggi was reportedly tortured and killed while in the consulate, and his body dismembered in a targeted attack.
Saudi officials initially denied claims he was dead and claimed that he had left the consulate, but on Saturday finally admitted that Khashoggi had been killed, supposedly in a fist fight with at least 15 security personnel.
Separately, on Dr Mahathir’s recent comment that Umno was now no more, Najib said “Umno is still here”.
Dr Mahathir had said so in an interview on Sinar Harian’s Program Bicara Minda on Monday.
When asked his opinion on whether Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is facing 45 charges in court, should take leave from the party, Najib said he had no say on the matter.
“I’m not in the Umno leadership, let them decide on this. I don’t have any opinion on it,” he said.
Meanwhile, embattled Dr Ahmad Zahid has paid no heed to the claims that Umno has ceased to exist.
“I’m here. Do you see? Umno is still here,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.
When asked if he would volunteer himself to take leave from the party’s top post in light of his criminal charges in court, Dr Ahmad Zahid said: “There’s no need.”
When asked if Umno plans to respond to the criticism by Dr Mahathir, he said that the matter was not important and he would not respond.
“It is up to him. (Suka hati dia lah),” he said.
Dr Ahmad Zahid is the first incumbent Umno president hauled to court to face criminal charges, raising questions about his fate as Umno chief.
He was on Oct 19 slapped with 45 charges related to money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and receiving bribes.