HADI WOOS NAJIB AGAIN: Tells Dr M to stop trying to topple Najib

KUALA LUMPUR - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should cease his attempt to topple Datuk Seri Najib Razak as any change of prime minister should be done via the ballot box, PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has said.

In a recent interview with Channel News Asia's “Conversation with” programme, Abdul Hadi also stressed that Najib should be deemed innocent of all graft allegations until and unless proven otherwise.

“We cannot assume guilt,” he was quoted saying in the interview.

“I praise Dr Mahathir. He is a brave and straightforward man. But I do not agree on his attempts to topple Najib without (going through) a proper democratic process,” he added.

Explaining his remarks, the Marang MP said he was defending the “concept of democracy” and that any change of leadership in the country must be done with the participation of voters.

“The changes to the post of prime minister must happen through due process, through elections not for a leader to be unseated without the involvement of the people,” he said.

But although he disagreed with calls for Najib’s early resignation, Abdul Hadi said he does not think PAS should join forces with Umno.

This, he said, is also in spite of PAS’s decision last month to sever ties with the DAP, a move that later led to the demise of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“We feel it is not right to join the current government when Umno cannot solve its own problems

“It is better for us to be by ourselves, and let the people continue supporting us instead of Umno in the next elections,” the PAS chief said.

Abdul Hadi had reportedly said earlier this month that US-based business daily the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) must provide at least four trustworthy witnesses to back its graft allegations against Najib after it reported that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was channeled from 1MDB to the prime minister’s personal bank accounts.

Back in May, Abdul Hadi openly voiced his support Najib to remain in power, saying there was no reason for him to step down as prime minister as he was democratically elected.

The PAS president was quoted by The Star Online as saying then that Najib should be given a chance to finish his term as PM.

Dr Mahathir has repeatedly called for Najib’s resignation, insisting that he has no choice but to continue pushing for the latter’s removal because of the 1MDB controversy.

Dr Mahathir, the country’s longest serving former prime minister, has been at the forefront of the on-going attacks against Najib’s leadership, even going public with his demand that the prime minister resigns before BN loses the next general election. - Malay mail