Friday 29 Mar 2024
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(April 14): After pledging full and undivided support for Datuk Seri Najib Razak today, Puteri Umno wants to meet Umno veteran Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to hear his side of the story behind his frequent attacks on the party president.

Puteri Umno chief Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin thanked Najib for his willingness to meet them at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) today and said the wing was satisfied with the prime minister's explanation.

She said during the one-hour session, Najib had explained to them the numerous issues raised by Dr Mahathir which included the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), goods and services tax (GST) and the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

About 178 division chiefs nationwide attended the meeting.

Mas Ermieyati said now that Najib had explained things, the party wing hoped that they would be able to meet with Dr Mahathir, the former Umno president, to hear his side of the issues raised against Najib and Umno.

"We have tried to meet him for a very long time but have yet to receive any response.

"Puteri Umno has no problem in meeting him. It will be good since the wing was set up during his time when he was the party president," she said.

Mas Ermieyati also said that the wing’s support for Najib was sincere and without ulterior motive, brushing off Dr Mahathir's suggestion that the Malay party was now all about money.

"That is just not true. The support for the president (Najib) is sincere... and I can say that all of us in the wing are genuine in our efforts to help the party and nation," she said.

Although Najib's explanations were not detailed, she said this was understandable due to the time constraints.

"We understand that it cannot be as detailed (as we wanted). It was only a one-hour meeting.

"We will get the rest of the information later and solve it among ourselves first," said Mas Ermieyati.

She also insisted that the support for the party president was not given blindly.

"This is not the time for apple polishing. As the youth movement in the party, we feel this is an important phase the party is going through with many great challenges that need to be tackled,” she said.

Mas Ermieyati added that she had also asked Najib to resolve his differences with Dr Mahathir for the sake of the party.

“We asked the president settle the matter with Tun Dr M. We love them both,” she said.

“I believe the president will have his own way to do it. (Also) I respect Tun Dr M as our former president. He is a great man but we don't want his views to harm the party.”

Najib has been facing attacks from his predecessor Dr Mahathir for his so-called "failure to address issues plaguing the nation", which include 1MDB’s debt and the Altantuya murder.

Dr Mahathir in his recent attacks had warned that Barisan Nasional would lose in the next general election if Najib remained prime minister. - The Malaysian Insider

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