Khairy defends Najib, says critic lowest of the low
As Umno faces criticism from within, its Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin defended his party boss Datuk Seri Najib Razak today by slamming the branch leader who told Najib to quit.
Khairy described Syed Rosli Jamalullail, a Umno branch leader who told Najib to quit for the good of the party, as the “lowest of the low” in the party hierarchy.
Malaysiakini reported today that Khairy said he could not understand why the portal highlighted Syed Rosli's open letter.
Downplaying the letter, Khairy said Syed Rosli had no position in the party.
“With (Batu Kawan division deputy chief) Datuk Khairuddin (Abu Hassan), at least that’s okay. He is a division leader. Perhaps we can respond.
“But Syed Rosli has no position in Umno. He challenged me for the youth chief post and got zero votes, you know?
“If you want to make a story out of something, at least quote somebody who is credible, not somebody (like) Syed Rosli. I think he is the lowest form of creature in Umno,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.
Khairy, who is also Youth and Sports Minister, was asked to comment on Syed Rosli's open letter.
In the letter, Syed Rosli said the party had become weak and was losing not only Malay support, but also voters of Barisan Nasional's component parties, especially from the Chinese and Indian communities.
"If Datuk Seri truly loves Umno and Barisan Nasional, the best thing is to step down. Help us to become strong again by leaving.
"We did not mean to insult Datuk Seri, but we feel that it is better that you step down voluntarily before the 14th general election."
He said that he did not want to "elaborate" further for fear of being sued, adding that he could not afford to be held liable.
Earlier, Khairuddin created waves in Umno when he lodged a police report against the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Najib's brainchild, citing concerns over its management of funds and the lack of transparency.
Earlier this week, his Batu Kawan division visited Najib to explain that they had no part in the affair and pledged their support for him and his management of the nation's economy as well as dealing with the 1MDB issue.
Commenting on Khairuddin’s actions, Khairy said party members were free to criticise the leadership, but their criticism should have substance.
He said he did not find substance in the allegations raised by Khairuddin.
“I see that Khairuddin’s statement is a statement that is weak. To date, it is not supported by any facts or arguments that can prove what he said is true.
“To me, if one is to make a statement, let it be substantial. Anyone can make general statements that would draw attention, but at the end of the day, people would evaluate it based on its substance,” he said.
In his police report on Friday, Khairuddin had called for a “detailed and comprehensive” investigation, urging authorities to interrogate 1MDB’s directors and representatives of any company that might be implicated in its scandals.
He said he lodged the report against the company and its board of directors after studying various reports in national and international print media and online media that “clearly proved” there were weaknesses in 1MDB’s management of taxpayers’ funds.
1MDB is Malaysia's second sovereign wealth fund after Khazanah Nasional Bhd. The company had recently come under much scrutiny after several opposition leaders highlighted the fund's massive debts, dubious land deals and secrecy over its transactions.
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has been a fierce critic of the wealth fund and its advisory board chairman Najib, asked Putrajaya to explain how 1MDB benefitted Malaysians, as it incurred a RM38 billion debt within just five years of its operations. – December 18, 2014.
