Prime Minister Najib Razak's thunder from yesterday's Budget 2014 announcement appears shortlived as 13 Negri Sembilan Umno branches have called on him to quit as party president.

Taman TKK branch chief Kamarul Azman Habibur Rahman, who headed the group, said the grassroots urged Najib to resign in order to save Umno from disaster at the next general election, due in 2018.

However, he said, the grassroots' intention is not to punish him for issues that have been dogging the party.

"We always pray for the best for our party president, but with the short time we have left for the next general election, this is not the time to be sentimental," he said.

"Umno is now seen as a party that has failed to settle its own problems.

"We are concerned that the elimination of certain leaders will add to problems that we already have," he said during a press conference in Teluk Kemang, Negri Sembilan, today.

'Accept the fact, Najib'

When asked if other branches in Teluk Kemang are of the same view, Kamarul said he has not discussed the matter with other branch chiefs.

"We have not contacted the others. We only had discussions among ourselves, and that's to get things started," he said, adding there are 54 branches in Teluk Kemang.

He said it was time that Umno made changes, and such change should start with the president, in order for the party to remain in power after the next polls.

"The time has come for Umno to accept changes. This time change has to start with our beloved president.

" Berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul (it's hard to watch the suffering, harder still to experience it).

"However, it is something that is best for Umno and the younger Malay generation. So we have to accept the fact," said Kamarul.

The 13 branches represented are Kampung Linggi, Taman Selasih, Taman PD Utama, Taman Datuk Abdul Samad, Taman Suwa Betung, Kampung Teluk, Sungai Sekawang, Bukit Tembok, Taman Intan Duyung, Taman TKK, Kampung Pacitan, Bunga Raya, dan Taman Politeknik.

Their move comes after repeated calls by former party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad for Najib to resign, fearing his handling of scandals.