“You got one feudal leader who has forgotten what he did before and you got somebody who’s very reflective of the spirit of our time,” the Umno Youth chief told reporters today.

He said unlike Mahathir, Najib was more receptive to members’ grouses.

“Absolute loyalty was what he (Mahathir) demanded when he was the president and everyone in Umno can attest to that.”

The Umno general assembly has heard speeches from all three leaders of the Youth, Wanita and Puteri wings urging party members to show their loyalty to Najib in the wake of the falling out of several party veterans, including Mahathir, with the prime minister.

Khairy said unlike during Mahathir’s presidency, the loyalty demanded from Umno members was to the institution and not to any individual.

“Najib has never been the type who shut people up, he’s open to criticism even within the party,” said Khairy.

“We give our support and loyalty to the institution of the presidency. I think that’s what Tun Mahathir didn’t understand.”

Khairy added that he was well placed to evaluate the styles of both leaders as he had been tasked with coming out with a blueprint for TN50, a 30-year transformation plan announced by Najib during his budget speech last October.

“You can see the difference between Najib and Mahathir’s Vision 2020,” he said, referring to Mahathir’s plan to have the country fully developed by 2020.

Khairy said Vision 2020 was a “top-down document” and “paternalistic”.

“But with TN50, Najib wants to hear the voice of the people first before he comes out with a national vision.”