Malaysia’s Najib quits as head of coalition, party after poll loss

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) – Malaysia’s defeated leader Najib Razak Saturday announced he was quitting as head of the Barisan Nasional coalition and its main party after leading the coalition to a shock loss.

“I have taken the decision to step down as president of UMNO and chairman of Barisan Nasional immediately,” he told a press conference. The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is the main party in the coalition.