Najib won't challenge Pak Lah

Najib was reported saying that "I will not destroy UMNO". He said this to a question by a participant in the forum organised by Royal Institute of International Relations in London yesterday. Furthermore, he said "I came from a family in which my father (Tun Abdul Razak Husein, the second Prime Minister) helped in forming the party and I am not the son that would destroy the party. I want to continue developing the party".

Dato' Sri Najib Tun Razak is not new in politic. He became a Member of Parliament at the age of 23. Later, he became the Youth UMNO Head in 1988 and rose to become the Vice President and now the Deputy President of UMNO. At this juncture, we have yet to see any UMNO divisions openly supporting Najib to become the President of UMNO. Yet, Najib has indicated in London that he won't challenge Pak Lah. Pak Lah's support is deteriorating due to the hike of oil price. All seems to be not well in UMNO of late.

UMNO's branch meetings all over the country starts next month. It will be followed by Divisions' meeting after the Aidil Fitri. We can gauge the sentiments of the grassroots only after all the Divisions have completed the meetings. Pak Lah has to respect the Divisions and the Branches wishes if they felt that he should resign as the Prime Minister and the President of UMNO. The Oppositions are harping that he still stay in the office so that many more issues may crop up.

I am not sure whether Parti Keadilan Rakyat managed to open up more branches and divisions throughout the country. I do believe that a lot of UMNO members are in the position of wait and see, they are watching closely the scenario in the party before they make any attempt whether to stick to the party or just dissappear in the oblivion if no changes are made in UMNO. We will wait and see.