Heed Dr M, Sabbaruddin tells Najib

Sabbaruddin Chik says the former PM makes a lot of sense.

PETALING JAYA: A former secretary-general of Umno, Sabbaruddin Chik, has some advice for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak: “Heed Dr Mahathir’s criticism; the former prime minister makes a lot of sense.”

Speaking to FMT after a book launching ceremony yesterday, he said Mahathir was often right in his observations about Najib’s performance as Prime Minister and Umno President.

“I feel it would be good for Najib to listen to what Mahathir says,” Sabbaruddin said.

However, Sabbaruddin would not commit himself to an answer when asked whether he agreed that Najib should resign, as suggested by Mahathir in a speech at a recent forum billed as “The Malay Dilemma”.

“Who am I to say whether I agree or not?” he said, noting that even the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, Hasan Malek, had seen it fit to refuse to renew his appointment as Chairman of Bank Rakyat.

Sabbaruddin’s loss of his Bank Rakyat job is the subject of the book launched yesterday. Written by political commentator Shahbudin Husin, the book alleges that Sabbaruddin fell out of favour for refusing to approve an unusual loan repayment scheme for Deepak Jaikishan, a controversial businessman who is said to be a close friend of Rosmah Mansor, the Prime Minister’s wife, at least they used to be sometime back.

The job vacancy left by Sabbaruddin has not been filled. A Treasury official has been seconded to the bank as Acting President. According to Sabbaruddin, this is not right because the official is performing the duties of chairman of the board, who should be independent.