“In my opinion, the struggle for Malays and Islam will not be complete if we do not fight for Malaysians of all races and religions,” the former prime minister wrote on Facebook, a day after senior Umno leader Mustapa Mohamed announced he was quitting the party, citing his unhappiness with the direction the party was taking in multiracial Malaysia.
Mustapa, who is the MP for Jeli in Kelantan, said Umno should be an “inclusive and moderate” party which takes into consideration others in Malaysia’s multiracial society.
Najib, the former Umno president, however said he had confidence in his successor Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to spearhead talks with PAS on forming a formal alliance, adding that in the past, DAP too had worked with the Islamist party.
His comments come days after Zahid and several Umno leaders attended the PAS muktamar in Kuala Terengganu last weekend.
Earlier today, another senior Umno leader, former foreign minister Anifah Aman, confirmed that he had quit the party as well.