KOTA KINABALU, Nov 12 — Malaysia’s Opposition has resorted to underhanded tactics to “confuse” the people if they are unable to win support, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
He claimed that there is now nothing beyond the Opposition in its scramble to win the political war.
“They will say what they like to confuse you or make you hate the government. The political side war now is: if you cannot bring them to your side, confuse them.
“It is not about facts or rationality. It’s about putting hatred and fear to achieve their political goals,” he said in his speech at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) congress here this afternoon.
The Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman also took a swipe at former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has since joined with the Opposition after quitting Umno earlier this year and was at the same moment, attending the inaugural Pakatan Harapan convention in Shah Alam, Selangor.
“When you have opposition, some who were on our side before especially — it is not about facts but how you demonise the government.
“They complain, but when you do what they want, they make a u-turn and reverse what they say. One 92-year-old is reversing everything he said and done in the past — he has u-turned on everything. These are all the games they play,” Najib said, without naming anyone.
Najib told the LDP congress that he was recently accused of “selling the country” after returning from an official visit to China where he signed some RM144 billion worth of investments for Malaysia.
He also related his experience while in China, which he said reflected on the Malaysian people.
“In China, I was given the highest possible honour as the head of government — a 19-gun salute. The Malaysian flag was in Tiananmen Square. They closed roads for me and the president and prime minister gave me time beyond that which was allocated.
“Whatever investment we get, whether from China, Japan, or America is a boost for the economy — more wealth, economy and jobs which only bring good for the people,” Najib said.
He also emphasised that while the Opposition dealt in rhetoric, only the BN government “listens to the people” and delivers on its promises of development, nation building and political stability.
“Parties that emerge overnight cannot be better than BN. Those that mushroom up cannot compare with BN who has been here all the while,” he said.
“But what is also important is that we listen to the people, and the current sentiment. Brexit, the election of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte and most recently, the Trump victory, are signs of the people and you can never take this for granted,” he added.
