The public's view on Umno will not be affected by the seizure of items worth close to RM 1.1 billion from properties linked to former prime minister Najib Razak, said Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (above).
According to the Malay Mail, Razaleigh, who is running for the Umno presidency in the coming party polls, said the seizure had nothing to do with Umno.
“I don’t think it affects our standing as a party, if this (referring to the allegations against Najib) is true.
“It is not the policy of the party or the encouragement of the party, so I don’t think it affects us," he was quoted saying after meeting Umno members in Ipoh last night.
Yesterday, police revealed that the total value for items confiscated from six residences linked to the former prime minister and his family, inclusive of cash, watches, handbags and jewellery, amounted to an estimated RM686.37 million in value while the haul's market retail value was placed at between RM910 million and RM1.1 billion.
This was inclusive of the RM114 million in cash seized from these properties, which Najib and several others have stated were donations made to Umno for its election campaign.
In an interview with Malaysiakini yesterday, Najib maintained that the items seized were gifts, and dismissed the police's estimation of the value of the loot as “subjective”.
Meanwhile, Razaleigh (below), who is fondly known as Ku Li, expressed his disappointment at the exit of Umno's Bukit Gantang MP Syed Abu Hussin Hafiz Syed Abdul Fusal and Bagan Serai MP Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali recently.
He said such departures are not to be encouraged as the people voted the 54 Umno lawmakers in during the 14th general elections, and therefore "and 54 of us should remain".
He said: “They (Umno MPs) should voice the views of the people in these 54 constituencies. Sadly, if they have to leave, it is their responsibility, not ours.
“But we may even resort to talking to them later, in the future."
Razaleigh will be facing Umno's acting president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, former Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and two others in the presidential race.
A total of 165,000 Umno delegates will vote for new leadership this Saturday.
