Dr M free to give his views, says Najib

Dr M free to give his views, says Najib

— Bernama

ALOR STAR, July 17 —

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday described as a personal opinion former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement of him (Najib) being a weak leader who never had his own stand.

He said whatever the opinion expressed about him, he had an outstanding record and always gave priority to the people's interests.

"Look at my track record. I am not neglecting the people's interests," he told reporters after a meeting with Kedah Umno divisional leaders and the State Umno Liaison Committee here.

Najib said the decision to accept the plan on the transition of power from Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to him was a decision accepted by the Umno supreme council.

"It was not a decision reached between me and Pak Lah (Abdullah) but it was a plan accepted by the Umno supreme council," the Umno deputy president said.

Najib said a party leader should ensure that whatever he did should be in the best interests of the party and country.

"We have to place our trust in the future leadership of the party and the plan for transition of power was formalised to ensure an orderly and organised leadership," he said.

Dr Mahathir had said on Tuesday that Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had a chance of beating Najib in a contest for the post of Umno deputy president in the party elections in December.

He had also said that people perceived Najib as a weak leader who had never had his own stand.

kzso - does he mean that there was no agreement then? or he is saying that if the supreme council says that the president and deputy president post can and should be contested, he will contest for the president post? i'm now confused because ydp pm said there was a 'gentlemen agreement' between them. hope najib won't be manipulated and used by the ydp pm like the one he did to tun dr mahathir ie to disagree to what was agreed