Umno leaders call for Najib's resignation, blame former PM for party’s defeat
(Right) Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak talking to his former cabinet ministers at the Umno 72nd anniversary celebration at Putra World Trade Centre on Friday, May 11, 2018.
KUALA LUMPUR — Barely two days after Datuk Seri Najib Razak lost his job as prime minister following a crushing defeat in the Malaysian general election, his party's leaders are baying for his blood, demanding that he steps down as party president.
United Malays National Organisation (Umno) leaders from Kedah, Terengganu, Perak, Penang and Negeri Sembilan have separately come out to publicly say that Datuk Seri Najib is a liability for the lynchpin party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, noting that a change in leadership is needed if both organisations are to be relevant again.
“The Umno Youth wing has always been consistent in defending the president, but for the sake of party survival, we are urging Najib to do the honourable thing and step down from the post to make way for a younger and more capable leadership," said Kedah Youth wing chief Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin.
“It is obvious that he has failed to lead and defend the power that we held for 60 years. We can no longer shoulder this personal liability. The party needs to rise and carry out a complete transformation."
Echoing the call, Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim added that “it is time that he (Najib) resigns".
“He needs to fully practise what he preaches, that he is always open hearted so he should hand over the party leadership to someone more worthy," he added, referring to the Malay phrase “saya berjiwa besar” that he claimed Datuk Seri Najib frequently used.
Results of Wednesday's polls showed that BN only won 79 out of 222 parliamentary seats up for grabs, sharply down from the 133 seats it clinched in the last election in 2013.
Unofficial vote tallies show it won 36.42 per cent of the vote share, its lowest-ever, on the back of voters’ unhappiness over rising costs of living and governance issues.
By contrast, Pakatan Harapan won 113 parliamentary seats and over 5.51 million votes, or 47.33 per cent.
Mr Khairy Jamaluddin, a former youth and sports minister, said in a Facebook post on Friday that Umno has to start rebuilding now.
“To return Umno to its original glory, we must make big changes in the party. The change must be made now. We cannot delay anymore.”
He called on Umno members to rally around him for an immediate bid to reform the party, but stopped short of openly calling for the president to go.
“I call on my comrades who wish to rebuild Umno from the collapse we have seen today, to stand with me as change must begin immediately."
This came a day after he said on Facebook - where he has 1.2 million followers - that Umno and BN need “better political moves and to always prioritise the people’s interests”.
“This party and its members have contributed to the country and its people for over 60 years - the shortcomings come from us, its leaders,” added the Umno Youth chief.
Speaking to TODAY, Umno Alor Setar youth wing's deputy chief Syed Mohd Johan Rizal Syed Unan Mashri said it had initially given Datuk Seri Najib its full support but the outcome of the election shows that the former prime minister is now a burden.
Admitting that Umno has neglected the concerns of the people and is now paying the cost, Mr Johan pointed out leadership renewal could "fix a few things".
"Grassroots activists find it hard to communicate ground concerns to the party's leadership because they are not open to feedback, so I hope this will change," he said.
"We know what is happening on the ground but we couldn't raise it. So we have been lying to ourselves and are now paying the price."
Terengganu Umno Youth Mohd Johari Abu Bakar said in a statement that a new leadership led by young people was key to ensuring Umno’s future while his counterpart in Perak, Mr Khairul Shahril Mohamed, said the party's top leadership should take responsibility for what had happened and accept a leadership change.
"The party needs new and capable faces in order to attract support," added Jelebu Umno division chief Jalaluddin Alias.
Jelebu is a district in Negeri Sembilan.
"All this while, BN has done so much for the country, especially the Malays. However, due to bad leadership, everything is ruined," said Mr Jalaluddin.
With such vocal calls from the party ranks - and more expected to voice similar sentiments in the coming days - Datuk Seri Najib's position in Umno looks untenable.
His predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was forced to step down a year after the 2008 national polls, which saw BN lose its parliamentary supermajority for the first time since 1969.
"It's obvious he will go down in Malaysian history as the one who led the entire BN to defeat and it is puzzling why he has remained quiet and is not willing to step down," Associate Professor Faisal Hazis, the head of the Centre for Asian Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Selangor told TODAY.
"He should take responsibility for BN's worst showing and allow young leaders within Umno to takeover to reboot the entire party."
Datuk Seri Najib has not responded to such calls for him to step down. On Friday night, he attended Umno's 72th anniversary celebration in Kuala Lumpur where the mood among the 500 or so guests was subdued, unlike in the past where such events were grand and lively.
Datuk Seri Najib did not address those present nor did he speak to the media.
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