Najib admits mistakes for Umno's failure in GE14

PEKAN: Former Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak admits he is partly to be blamed for the party's failure to win the 14th General Election.

Najib said he took responsibility for the party's failures and stepped down as Umno president even though there were shortcomings at every level of the party.

"It is time to change. We have to choose the best leaders for the party now and not because of benefits. We have to change our values, attitude and approach in order to be respected by the people once again," he said, adding that this was perhaps a test by God to see Umno change its ways.

The Pekan MP urged party members to return to the basis of Umno's struggle that required them to make sacrifices and be humble.

Najib said money politics must not be practised anymore if the party wants to change.

"We know that our glory days are over. We lost in the general election even though we spent so much.

"There were those who sulked when they didn't get allocations. There were those who did get money but said they didn't. Then there were candidates who received allocations but did not spend it.

"How are we supposed to win when our attitude is like that?" he asked.

However, the former premier also blamed Pakatan Harapan for making false promises, contributing to Barisan Nasional's loss in the 14th General Election.

He said the Pakatan Government's failure to fulfil promises like lowering petrol prices and giving 2% Employees' Provident Fund contribution to housewives proved that the people had been cheated.

"I can't believe people actually fell for that. My disappointment is not because our agenda was not good but because our loss was due to false promises.

"It is difficult to accept when we did our best for the people with achievable promises," he said.