KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — Umno lawmaker Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz distanced himself today from Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders’ appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak to chair the coalition’s advisory board.

Considered a loyalist when Najib was prime minister, the Padang Rengas MP expressed scepticism that the appointment would make the BN great again.

"We lost under whom? What kind of advice can he give us?

"Zahid, Najib and Tengku Adnan signed that letter. They are all being charged in court,” Nazri told reporters in Parliament when asked his comment on the Pekan MP’s appointment.

Nazri’s criticism was directed towards two others, Umno president Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi and treasurer Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tangku Mansor, who are also facing court cases.

Though refusing to comment on the matter, Nazri he felt Najib’s appointment should have been decided by the Umno Supreme Council.

The former minister added that the move was perhaps to provoke Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"Maybe they want to provoke Tun [Dr Mahathir]. All three are charged. I think it is regressive,” he said.

Najib was appointed chairman of the BN advisory board, in which the decision was unanimously agreed upon by its Supreme Council.