Najib is approachable for discussion - Samy Vellu

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should meet and talk to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak before publicly criticising the latter, former MIC president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu said.

He said Dr Mahathir, as a respected veteran statesman, should realise by now that Najib was always approachable for discussion.

"If I were to take the phone and call Najib now, saying that I need to see him at 6 pm, he will definitely say yes and ask me to come right away...that's Najib," he told reporters after the launch of Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund here today.

Samy Vellu said this in response to the continuous criticisms hurled by Dr Mahathir on Najib's leadership.

He said criticisms, when publicly done without prior discussions, would not only weaken Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN), but would also dampen the spirit of other BN component parties.