Should former premier Najib Abdul Razak have joined BN's campaign for the Sungai Kandis by-election?

At least one Umno leader - Titiwangsa division chief Johari Abdul Ghani - does not think so. This is because he felt that Najib's corruption charges could taint Umno's image.

When two Umno bigwigs were approached at the parliament lobby on this today, both refused to be drawn into the debate.

Former Perlis Umno head Shahidan Kassim said it should be up to the Umno president to decide who should be part of by-election campaigns.

"I was not told whether I should (be there) or not. I just attended.

"I agree that the president should decide who should (be campaigning) and such," he said.

Zahid passes the buck to Lokman

When Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was approached with Shahidan's suggestion, the latter distanced himself from Najib's role in the Sungai Kandis campaign.

He said BN candidate Lokman Noor Adam had invited Najib to campaign for him.

"I have checked and it was the candidate himself who arranged for (Najib’s) presence.

"Surely the candidate had good intentions and in that situation, regardless of differing views, we should have an open mind and open arms," he added.

He also likened Johari's comments to "kicking someone when he's down."

Najib is currently facing seven corruption and money-laundering charges involving the alleged transfer of RM42 million from the government-owned SRC International Sdn Bhd to his bank accounts.

He added that Najib's era was "history" and that if Umno still clung on to his legacy, then the party would be history as well.

Najib was one of the most prominent BN figure in the Sungai Kandis campaign.

Eventually, Lokman, a known Najib confidante, lost the by-election by garnering only 38 percent of the votes cast. PKR's Mohd Zawawi Ahmad Mughni emerged victorious.

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