Umno branch leader Syed Rosli Jamalullail who had earlier called on the Prime Minister to quit is only the “lowest of the low” in the party hierarchy, says Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar.

 

He said this in a press conference today, in downplaying Syed Rosli’s letter, when asked to comment on the matter.

 

Khairy told the media that he could not understand why Malaysiakini had choose to highlight Syed Rosli’s letter.

 

“With Datuk Khairuddin (Abu Hassan), at least that’s okay. He is a division leader. Perhaps we can respond.

 

“But Syed Rosli ( left ) 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 said.

Previously, Syed Rosli, who is the Pusat Bandar Taman Cempaka Umno branch information chief, said in an open letter that Najib has become a liability to BN and urged him to step down.

 

Just a week earlier, Batu Kawan Umno division deputy chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan lodged a police report against Najib over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue, claiming that it lacks transparency.

 

Najib is the chair of 1MDB’s advisory board. 1MDB is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Ministry of Finance, in which he is also the minister.

 

1MDB has expressed confidence that allegations made in Khairuddin’s report is baseless.

 

'Criticisms must have substance'

Responding to Khairuddin, Khairy said while Umno members are free to censure the party leadership, these criticisms should have substance.

 

“I see that Khairuddin’s statement is a statement that is weak ( remuk ). 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.

 

“In this case, I do not find any substance (to the allegations),” he said.

 

Among the many allegations raised by Khairuddin in his Dec 12 police report include 1MDB’s procedures in raising funds overseas and its disbursements.

 

He also alleged that 1MDB pays interest higher than the market rate, in addition to its less-than-transparent parking of fund in offshore financial centres.

‘Pandan Umno stands behind Najib’

Meanwhile, Umno Online reports that the Pandan Umno division stands behind Najib as PM and party president despite urgings by Pusat Bandar Cempaka Youth leader, Syed Rosli for the PM to step down.

Its division chief, Haniff Koslan, said this was Syed Rosli’s stand and is not the division’s stand.  

“Pndan Umno at all level supports Najib as party president and PM. This is based on the understanding reached following the Umno general assembly,” he said in a press conference.

Haniff said the division is not trying to stop criticisms on the party but emphasised the focus should be to ensure BN wins in the next general election.

He added that members should not follow to the tune of the opposition who want to see the party weak.

On whether action will be taken against Syed Rosli, Haniff said he will leave it to the Pusat Bandar Cempaka branch.

The branch chief, Syed Saifuddin Syed Harman, also denied involvement over Syed Rosli’s statement.

“We will take action on him as what was said had resulted in a bad image to the branch. We will discuss with the branch committee members before deciding on the next course of action on whether to warn, give advice or others,” he said.