I will stay on the job, Najib says
Those who want him to resign are much fewer than the three million Umno members who voted him as party president
BY MOHD FARHAN DARWIS
Published: 1 August 2015 6:38 PM
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak speaks during the opening ceremony of Umno Malacca, Bandar Hilir, Malacca. The PM says he will not step down as 3 million members are with him. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, August 1, 2015.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today reiterated that he will not step down even if there are many demanding his resignation over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
Those who want him to resign are much fewer than the three million Umno members who voted him as party president, he said when launching the Kota Melaka Umno division delegates' meeting this afternoon.
"With one voice telling me to step down, I will not. Because I know there are three million members with me," he said, repeating the remarks he made during his visit to Sarawak last month.
"I was elected through a democratic process."
In response to his speech, all 500 delegates at the Kota Melaka meeting stood up and shouted 'Hidup Najib' (long live Najib).
A group of activists calling themselves 'Demi Malaysia' organised the #TangkapNajib demonstration in Kuala Lumpur earlier today, demanding for the arrest of the PM for allegedly being involved in corruption and abuse of power.
"I am not arrogant but I have been entrusted by the party to continue leading," said Najib.
"Don't obstruct me because I want to do my best. I am introducing capital economy, the people's economy," he said.
"There are people who say I am not smart because I removed the quota for contesting the party presidency," he said, referring to the change in the Umno election system that allowed the members the democratic space to choose their president.
The party constitution previously required those who wanted to contest the presidency to have the nomination from 63 Umno divisions.
"You think it was easy to get it? It was tough. If I had kept the old constitution, I can be president of the party for 23 years. I can...because who would challenge me?
"But I want Umno to be more open. So I am letting 160,000 Umno members take their pick," he said.
Najib said he believed the issues currently affecting him and his administration would be resolved soon.
"Difficult times, Insha Allah, will not be long if we have friendship. There is light at the end of the tunnel. If we get through this difficult time, Insha Allah we will be stronger.
"It is alright that I am facing tests," he said.
Najib also said he accepts former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's pledge of loyalty to Umno although he has been sacked from the Cabinet.
"If Muhyiddin says he is loyal to the party, I accept. Because that is what I want. Because Umno is bigger than any leader," he said.
The Pekan MP said the support he received was not support for an individual but support for the party president.
"By coincidence I am the president today. It is not because I am Najib. The president of the party must be strong because of the position, not because he is Najib.
"As long as I hold that position, I need strength to lead the party towards victory," he said.
Najib cited the loyalty of opposition supporters to former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he was attacked over a 'China Doll' sex video several years ago.
"With the opposition, even when there is proof, they will still defend their leader. When people defend their leader, he will make it," he said. – August 1, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/i-will-stay-on-the-job-najib-says#sthash.ndqDYiCn.dpuf
BY MOHD FARHAN DARWIS
Published: 1 August 2015 6:38 PM
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak speaks during the opening ceremony of Umno Malacca, Bandar Hilir, Malacca. The PM says he will not step down as 3 million members are with him. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, August 1, 2015.Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today reiterated that he will not step down even if there are many demanding his resignation over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
Those who want him to resign are much fewer than the three million Umno members who voted him as party president, he said when launching the Kota Melaka Umno division delegates' meeting this afternoon.
"With one voice telling me to step down, I will not. Because I know there are three million members with me," he said, repeating the remarks he made during his visit to Sarawak last month.
"I was elected through a democratic process."
In response to his speech, all 500 delegates at the Kota Melaka meeting stood up and shouted 'Hidup Najib' (long live Najib).
A group of activists calling themselves 'Demi Malaysia' organised the #TangkapNajib demonstration in Kuala Lumpur earlier today, demanding for the arrest of the PM for allegedly being involved in corruption and abuse of power.
"I am not arrogant but I have been entrusted by the party to continue leading," said Najib.
"Don't obstruct me because I want to do my best. I am introducing capital economy, the people's economy," he said.
"There are people who say I am not smart because I removed the quota for contesting the party presidency," he said, referring to the change in the Umno election system that allowed the members the democratic space to choose their president.
The party constitution previously required those who wanted to contest the presidency to have the nomination from 63 Umno divisions.
"You think it was easy to get it? It was tough. If I had kept the old constitution, I can be president of the party for 23 years. I can...because who would challenge me?
"But I want Umno to be more open. So I am letting 160,000 Umno members take their pick," he said.
Najib said he believed the issues currently affecting him and his administration would be resolved soon.
"Difficult times, Insha Allah, will not be long if we have friendship. There is light at the end of the tunnel. If we get through this difficult time, Insha Allah we will be stronger.
"It is alright that I am facing tests," he said.
Najib also said he accepts former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's pledge of loyalty to Umno although he has been sacked from the Cabinet.
"If Muhyiddin says he is loyal to the party, I accept. Because that is what I want. Because Umno is bigger than any leader," he said.
The Pekan MP said the support he received was not support for an individual but support for the party president.
"By coincidence I am the president today. It is not because I am Najib. The president of the party must be strong because of the position, not because he is Najib.
"As long as I hold that position, I need strength to lead the party towards victory," he said.
Najib cited the loyalty of opposition supporters to former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he was attacked over a 'China Doll' sex video several years ago.
"With the opposition, even when there is proof, they will still defend their leader. When people defend their leader, he will make it," he said. – August 1, 2015.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/i-will-stay-on-the-job-najib-says#sthash.ndqDYiCn.dpuf
