Any Umno member who is not “willing to die” for the party should just leave, according to its former president Najib Abdul Razak.

Sinar Harian quoted the former premier as saying that Umno has no need for “turncoats” who are only loyal to the party for their own personal interests.

“Sometimes there are those who proclaim their loyalty, but that loyalty is only when we are in power.

“When we are no longer in power, they will stomp on the Umno flag.

“For these types of people, it is better for them to leave Umno. We only want those who are loyal, those who are willing to die and dare to die with Umno,” he said, without mentioning any names.

However, Najib appears to be indirectly referring to those who had deserted him after resigning as Umno president, following BN’s historic defeat to Pakatan Harapan in the 14th general election.

“In politics, there are those who show support when they can get something (out of it), and there are those who only show support during our good times."

Najib further noted that there are groups within Umno who would be willing to put their personal interests above the party’s.

“In fact, there are also actions that appear to threaten our party, and strangely, such actions are being done by those who hold positions in the party.

Given such developments within Umno, Najib said he was personally not surprised that there are Umno leaders who have joined the chorus of “attacks” against the party.

“People are looking at Umno as being in a situation where we have forgotten the values of our struggle.

“Let us be truly sincere and loyal to the Umno struggle…only then can there be light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.