Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should have defended the controversial Tabung Haji land purchase if it was good for the pilgrimage fund, said veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin.

Kadir, who is a relentless Najib critic, said it was ironic for the premier to advise Tabung Haji to resell the land it had bought from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and then explain the purchase's virtues.