Umno veteran leader Rais Yatim said that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should be given the chance to complete his mandate as the PM before he is evaluated.

“We should give him that opportunity. He has another three years (before the next general election),” said Rais, the government’s adviser on social and cultural issues.

He was commenting on former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claim that there are other leaders more qualified to replace Najib as PM.

Mahathir, in an interview with Sinar Harian , had stated that “Umno does not allow” those who are qualified to progress".

He had also brought up the issue of members axing each other in the Malay based party out of self interest.

No badmouthing

Meanwhile, Rais said he hoped that there will be no ‘badmouthing” on the issue even though Mahathir did not mention who he meant.

“If Mahathir had said thqt, of course we want to see who he means. But we should not be quick to badmouth at this stage,” said Rais.

He was speaking after officiating a book expo in PWTC today.

Rais ( right ) also advised Najib to be patient and persevere in taking the criticisms.

“As the adviser (to the government), I should not give a drastic opinion but what I am saying is that he should be allowed to continue his duty.

“If there are comments, it is all right, as long as he (Najib) stays patient and accepts it bravely,” said Rais.

Najib said that in any government, mistakes happen and the PM must be reminded not to repeat them.

"But what is good, we should give credit to him,” said Rais.