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Nazir plans to set up NGO, not political party
Published:  Jun 17, 2015 2:32 PM
Updated: 8:18 AM

Nazir Abdul Razak, brother of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, today denied he was planning to set up a new political party.

"I refer to recent news reports that I am setting up a new political party.

"This is not true," he said in a statement.

Nazir, who is CIMB chairperson, said he has been discussing about the setting up of a NGO to advocate moderation.

Nazir said he has been "growing increasingly concerned" about the socio-political environment as well as its impact on the economy.

"In this context I have had conversations with like-minded friends, including Saifuddin Abdullah ( photo ), about the need to better enable moderate Malaysians to voice their views, concerns and suggestions.

"We have discussed setting up a NGO but it remains just an idea at this moment," he said.

Yesterday, Asia Sentinel reported that Nazir was looking to fund a political party.

It added that Nazir wanted to remain in the background and asked Saifuddin, a former Umno deputy minister, to step forward as the public face of this new movement.

This was amid concerns of growing racial and religious divide in the country which both the ruling coalition and opposition appear unable to address.

Meanwhile, former Umno deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah confirmed that he was in talks with Nazir on the matter.

"I wish to confirm that there have been conversations by him (Nazir) and friends, including me, on the current sociopolitical and economic situation.

"We are thinking of forming an NGO as a platform for moderate voices," he said.

Presently, Saifuddin is the chief executive officer of the Global Movement of Moderates, a brainchild of the prime minister.

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