No need for Umno to focus on Najib, that ship already sailed - Experts

SHAH ALAM - Umno should focus on strengthening the party through genuine reform rather than focusing on Datuk Seri Najib Razak's justice, says expert.

International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Political Science Association Professor Dr Syaza Shukri said Umno should not focus on Najib as that ship has already sailed.

"Maybe the 'Bossku' phenomenon was useful for the Melaka and Johor state elections, but not anymore since he (Najib) went to jail a year ago.

"We can see that it didn’t even work for the 15th General Election (GE15) or the recent state election," she said.

Therefore, she stressed that Umno should focus on strengthening the party through genuine reform and current leadership.

On Aug 23, Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib questioned Umno's efforts in obtaining justice for its leaders, especially in the defence of Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

The son of the former prime minister raised the question on the one-year anniversary of Najib's imprisonment.

Commenting further, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) political analyst Dr Abdul Aziz Azizam said the statement from Nazifuddin seems like taking advantage of the confusion.

"There are too many problems within Umno, and I believe that the members themselves might struggle to determine which one needs to be addressed first.

"If Umno truly wants to break free from the grip of their problems, they need to confront reality, the real situation, and manage internal matters while considering their core priorities," he said.

He further said that it's best to leave Najib's case to the court to make any decision, and no one should interfere in this matter.

"Raising the issue of Najib amidst this confusion will not relieve Umno from their actual burdens," he added.