CIMB chairperson Nazir Abdul Razak has refused to comment if his brother Najib Abdul Razak should resign as prime minister.

"This is not a serious question," he was quoted as saying by Sin Chew Daily .

He was asked if Najib should heed the calls of certain quarters for him to step down.

The vocal banker, however, defended the freedom of expression of those who voiced out against the government.

According to him, these people should not be seen as 'economic saboteurs', but instead be encouraged to speak out more in order to discover the correct solution to the problem.

"I am happy the prime minister said he would get in touch with the grassroots, especially the entrepreneurs to know the economic situation.

"(He will be able to) evaluate and take the correct methods if he understands these views," he added.

Nazir said the government would be in the dark if the people refuse to voice out due to fear of being labelled as economic saboteurs.

The prime minister, he added, would not be able to make the correct judgement.

"Misdiagnosis and the wrong prescription can be dangerous," he noted.