"I will not raise old issues involving UMNO" - Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he would not raise 'old issues involving UMNO' to uphold the collective responsibility and love for the party.

Najib who is also the UMNO President said he loved the party and would not do anything that would tarnish the image of party since it would not serve any purpose or benefit UMNO.

"In UMNO's history, there were many incidents in the past but I am not going to dwell in the past due to the principle of 'Collective Responsibility'. I am not going to talk about losses or wrong doings in the past..."

"...if we start pointing fingers at the past it will be a reflection of the party and since I love UMNO, I would not want to do it," he said when opening the Alor Setar UMNO Division delegates meeting, here today.

The Prime Minister said what he was doing now as the President of UMNO was no different than what was practiced by previous UMNO Presidents like Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said he would continue to source for funds to mobilise the UMNO machinery so to continue serving the people.

He said in efforts to source funds for UMNO, the most important principles is not to 'steal money from people' and not solicit funds illegally as well as to ensure such funds are not used to buy votes.

Najib said Tun Dr Mahathir also admitted that political parties needed funds.

"This (political fund) has been acknowledged by Tun Dr Mahahir himself in his book Transparency International, where he (Tun Dr Mahathir) stated that 'every political party needs money'," he said.

The Prime Minister said he also held on to the principle of supporting the leader, just like what was practiced before, when he was the Deputy President of UMNO under Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Najib said when he was the Deputy to Abdullah, he did not question the President of UMNO with regards to funds obtained for UMNO.

"When I was the Deputy I did not question Pak Lah (Tun Abdullah) where he got the money. I asked Pak Lah, have you asked Tun Mahathir (when Abdullah was his Deputy) and he said no.

"As long as the two main principles - money is not stolen from anyone and funds not solicited illegally, it is up to the President," he said.

Najib said he can give a detailed explanation about the funds to members of UMNO but such explanation must be done behind closed doors because discussing party funds in the open would be damaging for UMNO and furthermore, the opposition too do not reveal their source of funds.

"Enough, stop digging, we are all in a team. If we love the party, let there be peace," he said citing the loyalty and sacrifice of Alor Setar UMNO Division chief Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Hanipah.

Also present was Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir.