KOTA KINABALU – Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) “pack of lies” was key to Barisan Nasional’s (BN) loss in the 2018 general election (GE14), says former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
Speaking to The Vibes, he said there was a “strange atmosphere” before the May 9 contest that saw the downfall of BN.
Now the former prime minister, who is also Pekan MP, is saying otherwise – that Malaysians want the return of BN policies.
“It was a very strange atmosphere before GE14. Leading up to GE14 but you know, even GST (goods and services tax) was condemned by PH, but now I meet people... telling me that they want GST back, because GST is much better than SST (sales and services tax).
“The SST has not led to fall in prices (of goods and services). GST has actually allowed the government to have more resources, to stabilise the country's finances and help the rakyat.
“BR1M (1Malaysia People's Aid) for example, helping the fishermen, smallholders, people with kids and school, and all that.
“We use GST money you see, that has resulted in the kind of growth like 5.9% in 2017 and during the nine years that I was prime minister, our growth rate was higher than Singapore every single year,” Najib said.
BR1M was a cash handout scheme mooted under Najib’s asdministration for B40 households.
“Now we think that BN is the best government. Definitely better than PH. Those are the kinds of comments that I've been getting.”
‘BN far more effective’
Other achievements Najib highlighted were the longest bull run on Bursa Malaysia during his tenure as prime minister with exports, trade surpluses and reserves at all-time highs and the country’s shrinking deficit levels.
“I'm saying that these are based on facts. These are facts issued by our central agencies, by central bank Bank Negara, and issued by the Economic Planning Unit.
“All these are numbers and figures that have resulted in the shift in public opinion. They realised that they were actually, if you like, being politically seduced to reject BN, but in fact, BN policies have proven to be far more effective for the benefit of the people and the country.”
On BN’s fall, Najib said he took responsibility for the loss by resigning as Umno president as well as BN chief.
“There is no question of me not taking responsibility although you can argue otherwise, everybody contributed towards in one way or the other, to the outcome of the results,” said Najib, who was succeeded by his deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Najib said his focus after stepping down from his posts, was to combat PH “because I felt the sense of injustice”.
PH, he added: “won on a pack of lies and they won on false promises which is now we put the case to the people in the seven by-elections and they've realised that, hey, we have made a mistake, you know?”
If he could do things differently, Najib said he would have “focused more on combating the lies and false promises” of his opponents.
“You can have good policies, but can you deliver? I was concentrating on these things, implementation, execution and I’ve delivered for the people.
“I delivered a public transport system that was probably one the best of the world but that’s just the beginning. I have not been able to complete my agenda for the country or our agenda for the country.”
Finding the right political formula
Following the 2018 defeat, Najib was brought to trial over abuse in state-owned investment vehicle 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and its former subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd.
He has been found guilty of corruption for misappropriating RM42 million meant for SRC International, making him the first former prime minister to face criminal charges. Najib is still facing trial for his involvement in 1MDB.
Umno, on the other hand, teamed up with PAS and Bersatu to oust PH in a coup.
This led to Umno being involved in loose political pacts such as Muafakat Nasional (MN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN). The latter is led by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is also Bersatu president.
“This is not the best sort of situation because there’s a lot of confusion on the ground and voters sometimes in two minds as to which side which they should really support. I suppose this is a temporary situation until we sort it out come GE15 and beyond that,” Najib said.
He recommended strengthening Umno and BN as well as MN as the latter “is the coalition or the platform that has proven itself in the seven by elections” especially in the peninsula.
But Najib was not entirely dismissive of PN “because we are members of the government now”.
There is a need to sort out a political formula and political platform to create a sense of stability and confidence for the country, he said. – The Vibes, September 25, 2020
Datuk Seri Najib Razak was interviewed by Terence Fernandez, Norman Goh and Azril Annuar.
Najib says it again: ‘I did not ask for the RM42 million’ – Part 3
Najib: ‘Bossku’ persona effective in garnering support – Part 2
