Former information minister Zainuddin Maidin said today ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad's criticism of Najib Abdul Razak was timed ahead of the Umno general assembly so that delegates will not be afraid to openly criticise the prime minister and Umno chief.

"Mahathir's message is a clear challenge to Umno leaders to stop just talking behind Najib's back, that they must be brave to come forward and criticise Najib openly at the Umno assembly," he wrote in his blog today.

He said Najib assumes his achievement in foreign relations and economics would result in a calm assembly, but Mahathir is trying to voice the kind of discontent that the Umno grassroots have.

"This wave (by Mahathir) will become a storm, and it will, at the Umno assembly that Najib thinks will be calm," Zainuddin said.

Zainuddin said that Mahathir had taken it upon himself to offer this criticism and was ready to face the "consequences".

 
"He himself is very disappointed because his personal advice that also represents the public was not heeded by Najib," he said.
 
He also said that Mahathir's criticism will mobilise Najib's "army", headed by Rompin MP Jamaluddin Jarjis and Padang Rengas MP Nazri Abdul Aziz, who will try to "defend and save" Najib.
 
Yesterday, Mahathir declared that he regretted backing Najib to become PM and said that he was retracting his support for the premier.
 
He also said that Najib was "soft and silent" on critical issues.

The Umno annual assembly is scheduled to take place during the end of November.

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