Umno president Najib Abdul Razak today asked for a six-month period to solve 1MDB's financial problems through its rationalisation plan.

He admitted that the 1MDB affair was a concern for the people and pledged that he would take care of the problem within the time stipulated.

He told reporters after an Umno supreme council meeting in Kuala Lumpur today that he had been already briefed by Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah regarding the matter.

"The supreme council took notice that there are a few things that need to be taken care of to soothe the people's concerns, including the 1MDB issue, for which I was given an explanation by Husni on the current state of affairs.

"The six months I have asked for is to help 1MDB in regards to slashing its debt and solving a few problems on the rationalisation process that we are going through," he told a press conference.

Najib has been asking the people to give him six months to resolve the imbroglio since August .

At the Pasir Gudang Umno annual meeting on Aug 9, he said that one month had lapsed and he has five more months left to complete the 1MDB debt rationalisation plan.

'Umno's focus is to help people'

Najib said the focus of the party is to work for the people and to make sure that every single citizen of Malaysia reaps benefits from Umno's hard work.

"The focus (of Umno) is to work for the people. As a party that is vital to the government, we should give focus to help the people and solve the problems of the country.

"We need to be close to the people's heart and we need to resume the focus. We even ask and get response from all parties in our budget preparation - for the benefit of the nation," he said.

Najib's administration was criticised from all corners for the poor perception of handling the 1MDB fiasco.

One of his chief critics is former mentor Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In a related matter, Najib denies Mahathir's allegation that he is bribing the Umno division chiefs to stay in power.

"What bribe? There are already statement to the cops and it is up to the police to investigate. I’ve got no agenda at all," he said.

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