Najib will cost BN at next poll, Dr M warns

KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad has told a Malay non-governmental organisation of his fear that the governing Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition will lose in the next general election if Mr Najib Razak continues as Prime Minister.

Mr Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, the president of Ikhlas, an NGO representing Malay traders and small businesses, said the group met Dr Mahathir for a dialogue lasting more than an hour in which the former Prime Minister talked about BN’s future under Mr Najib’s leadership.

“(Dr) Mahathir was quite clear on this. He is firm in his stand that he is not in favour of PM. He said BN may lose (the next general election) if Najib continues to rule,” Mr Ridzuan told news portal The Malaysian Insider.

Last month, Dr Mahathir had criticised Mr Najib’s leadership and said he was withdrawing support for the latter because his feedback had not been heeded.

Dr Mahathir, however, has not made a clear call for Mr Najib’s resignation.

Dr Mahathir had said, back then, that he had hoped Mr Najib would have learnt lessons from his poor performance in the previous general election, but it appeared he had not.

“Many policies, approaches and actions taken by the government under Mr Najib have destroyed interracial ties, the economy and the country’s finances,” he said.

BN secured its 13th straight election win last year, although the result was also the narrowest victory for the coalition since Malaysia gained independence in 1957.

Dr Mahathir’s meeting with Ikhlas was held on Monday at the former Prime Minister’s office at the Perdana Foundation in Putrajaya.

It was initiated by Ikhlas, also known as Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia, which wanted to meet the former premier over concerns about the economy and BN’s future.

Mr Ridzuan said Ikhlas had not intended to discuss Mr Najib’s leadership at the meeting, but that Dr Mahathir himself had raised the issue.

“It was not on our agenda when we met him, but he told us that just because he shook hands with (Mr) Najib or took pictures with him, it does not mean that he supported him,” Mr Ridzuan said.

He said that besides Ikhlas, representatives from Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia, a group whose members were mainly former Malay army personnel, the Muslim Consumers Association and a few others were also present at the meeting.

Mr Ridzuan said Dr Mahathir told the meeting that mistakes should be pointed out so they can be corrected.

“He said what is wrong is wrong. We have to point it out and not sit on the fence. This is the only way to move forward,” said Mr Ridzuan, adding that the Malay NGOs would request another session with Dr Mahathir in the future.

Dr Mahathir had begun the meeting by talking about Mr Najib, BN’s future and the future of Malay economics. He predicted that Malaysia would become a consumer nation and not a production powerhouse, Mr Ridzuan said.

“This has to do with the government’s policy to allow foreign nations to open their businesses in the country, which affects the country’s income. Our money has been going out in billions because of this,” he said.

“Some of us were worried about BN and some did ask what they should do because they somehow feel like they are trapped in the middle,” said Mr Ridzuan. AGENCIES