KUALA LUMPUR – Claims of Chinese support by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during his visit to Penang has drawn fire from PKR, which called “Bossku” a “desperado drama king”.
State PKR communications director Amir Ghazali said Penangites are often “entertained” by allegations that Chinese voters have returned to Barisan Nasional (BN) based on election results in Melaka and Johor as well as the reception Najib got during his two-day visit.
“To me, the allegations are simplistic. The two state elections are not a voting trend for a general election.”
He added that “desperado stunts” are needed to gain public sympathy. But Penangites still remember the discrimination perpetrated when Najib was PM, just because the state is governed by a different party, he said.
“Supporters of ‘Bossku’ think that a few hundred people showing up for his (Najib) programmes in Penang is a good sign that Penangites are supporting him.
“Anyone can arrange for supporters to show up at rallies and ceramah. From what we know, those who showed up are remnants of his supporters who are scheduled to show up. That’s all.
“Therefore, I congratulate the staged drama, which will serve as a beautiful memory when ‘Bossku’ goes to prison.”
Amir’s rebuke did not escape Najib’s attention. The former prime minister took to Facebook to rebut criticism aimed at him.
“This morning, an individual, who is supposedly a state PKR communications director, had claimed that my visit did not receive any response. I was even accused of being a drama king,” he said in a post.
“It (the opinion) is up to the individual,” he said, adding with a mild taunt: “I noticed that his posting only had seven likes. Because of that, I decided to help him free of charge.”
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Penang Umno leadership here, he said he was given a visibly warm welcome during his visits to markets and coffee shops in the state yesterday.
Najib later was feted to a nasi kandar luncheon before he flew back to Kuala Lumpur.
Last December, the Court of Appeal upheld the high court decision to find Najib guilty of all seven charges involving corruption over funds belonging to former 1Malaysia Development Bhd subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd. – The Vibes, March 26, 2022
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