Dr M’s criticism is an internal party matter, says Najib

Datuk Seri Najib Razak today refused to be drawn into the controversy surrounding Tun Dr Mahathir's Mohamad's criticism against him, which he described as an internal Umno matter.

The prime minister said it was enough that a number of Umno leaders had already commented and expressed their views on the former prime minister’s grouses.

"Most of the leaders in Umno already gave their statements. I see this as an Umno stance and they have given their support to the current leadership, while at the same time respecting Tun (Dr Mahathir) as a veteran.

"We view this as an internal party matter and it will be dealt with accordingly and in the best possible way," he told reporters after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting at Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur.

Last week, Dr Mahathir retracted his support for Najib saying all of his advice and opinions had fallen on deaf ears.

"I have no choice but to withdraw my support. My advice has been ignored, so I have to criticise," Dr Mahathir reportedly said.

"Too many policies and government actions under Najib has destroyed the racial unity in the country, besides the country's financial and economic standing."

Mahathir said Najib’s slide began when he listened to his “enemies’ demands” and abolished the Internal Security Act in 2011 and the Restrictive Residents Act, which had previously allowed the government to detain anyone including suspected criminals without trial.

Umno leaders, however, have been cautious in their reaction to Dr Mahathir's strong and open criticism against Najib.

Many had, in a way, defended the Umno president with Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, who is Umno vice-president, leading the way by saying that the PM is doing his best in administering the country.

This was followed by Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who said that Najib must be respected by all, including Dr Mahathir.

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor also responded that Najib should be given a chance to implement his suggestions, while the party's information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said the former PM should have been circumspect with his criticism.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir's former deputy Tun Musa Hitam chided him, saying that the longest serving PM of the country would only cease his complaints once a clone of himself was placed in Putrajaya. – August 29, 2014.