It’s unethical to talk about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's family’s lavish lifestyle, claimed a group of former BN elected representatives.

“I don't think (Najib's opponents) should stoop so low to talk about people's personal lives,” said Abdul Rahman Sulaiman, the information chief of the Malaysian Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak).

Najib's grandfather, the first Dewan Rakyat speaker Mohammad Noah Omar, had set up the Noah foundation, to look after the family, he said.

“So, they are wealthy people,” he held.

Mubarak president Abdul Aziz Rahman ( left ) added there was no question of Najib and his family living beyond their means.

As such, Mubarak didn't find this an issue, and those who do need to do it properly, he told a press conference today.

He, however, advised a major critic of Najib, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, to engage in a dialogue with his handpicked successor.

 

Of late, Mahathir has been attacking Najib on issues like 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and the luxurious lifestyle of his family.

He has also raised questions on Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu's brutal murder.

 

'Thrash it out'

Abdul Aziz suggested that if Mahathir had any criticism, it should be done in the proper manner. “Both leaders can sit down and trash it out," he said.

 

He went on to defend Najib, saying that the country should wait patiently for the outcome of auditor-general's report and Public Account Committee with regards to IMDB.

 

He also pointed out there were financial leakages even during Mahathir's era.

Abdul Aziz also felt that Najib would be a 'failed prime minister' if he heeded Mahathir's ( left ) advice.

 

"We must allow Najib to be himself. If a prime minister is subject to an individual and told what to do, that's failure.

 

"Najib must be allowed to run the country. Comments can be given but the decision must be made by his administration," he asserted.

 

While defending Mahathir's  right to speak to Umno grassroots , as he had indicated he would do in his blog, this needed to be done according to the party’s procedures and constitution, added Abdul Aziz.

 

Mahathir had said it would only be fair to allow party members to hear both sides of the story regarding IMDB.

 

"Mahathir has been making noise all over the world. But if he loves BN and Umno, he would do it quietly.

 

"This is because whatever he says carries weight. We don't want to give bullets to the opposition," Abdul Aziz explained.