KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 21 — The public must see through the “lies” of Pakatan Rakyat parties and not be so “gullible” to believe everything that they say, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
Calling the stories told by the opposition during the 13th General Election unbelievable, Najib said it was more distressing that the public accepted these as true.
“Why do you need to lie? Why do you claim 40,000 Bangladeshis will become voters? Why do you have to lie about the power cut?” Najib said at the launch of MCA’s general assembly here, referring to claims made by the opposition pact during the last national polls.
“You don’t have to do that. You compete on your vision and your ability to lead the nation. Don’t lie... and the public shouldn’t be so gullible to the point that on voting day, you see someone with slightly darker skin and you chase after him.
“In the end, that person was with PKR and not a Bangladeshi. It went to that extent, that state of frenzy. What is wrong with the Malaysian people? Can’t they all think?” Najib said.
During the general election in May, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had accused Barisan Nasional (BN) of flying in 40,000 Bangladeshis as voters to prop up support for the ruling coalition across the country.
PR leaders also accused the BN of switching ballot boxes during an alleged blackout in Bentong, where MCA presidential hopeful Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai won by a slim margin against the DAP candidate, environmental activist Wong Tack.
The police and election commission, however, debunked the blackout claim and the opposition later criticised those responsible for spreading the rumours on social media for being irresponsible.
Najib today slammed the opposition for not practising what they preach, taking pot-shots at Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for being PKR’s unelected de-facto leader and at DAP for allegedly being unable to conduct proper party elections.
“Which party has had two elections and until now have not received RoS approval?” he said, referring to DAP that has been at loggerheads with the Registrar of Societies over disputes in its recent party polls.
“They talk about a two-party system, but until today they have no shadow cabinet. When they say there is something not right with democracy, why is it that their party has no proper elections?
“They have not been tested. Maybe they look good because they are not in government, but even when they are in government... look at Selangor. They say BN is ‘Barang Naik’ but who increased salaries by 200 to 300 per cent?” Najib added, pointing to the recent salary hike for elected representatives and top public officials approved by the Selangor State Assembly.
Najib, who is also BN chairman, noted that despite the opposition’s alleged penchant for spinning stories, the onus still fell on the ruling coalition to reach out to the public and explain the government’s policies such as the impending implementation of goods and services tax (GST) and the need for toll rate hikes.
He said the government has to fulfil numerous demands such as the need to build more hospitals, schools, ports and airports, and it would take too long a wait if highways were to be built purely on government funding.
“We want world-class infrastructure, but somebody has to pay for it. The rakyat must understand, that there is no such thing as a free lunch,” the prime minister said.
Najib said it is incumbent on the government to make improvements to its policies as the country moves closer to its goal of becoming a developed nation by 2020, but stressed that it cannot be at the expense of its current direction.
“We must stay the course. Don’t waver. We will do some tweaking and fine tuning, but we must stay the course, and we will be a developed nation,” he said.
