Stop being a hypocrite, Najib tells Dr M
SEPANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last night told Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to stop being a hypocrite.
He said the former prime minister had previously paid millions of ringgit to a Hong Kong-based lobbyist to set up a meeting with then-United States president George W. Bush.
“The lobbyist was awarded with a lucrative project. I know this. (Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad) Zahid (Hamidi) knows this.
“He (Dr Mahathir) criticised my meeting with President Donald Trump, but Dr Mahathir spent millions to set up a meeting with Bush. And, the reception he received was not as warm as the one Trump had given me.
“Please don’t be a hypocrite. I went there not because of me, but for Malaysia. We have good ties with China, and that is also for Malaysia. We have good ties with Saudi Arabia — also for Malaysia.
“I went to the US not to kneel or beg, but to convey that Malaysia is a global player,” Najib said at the Bunga Raya Complex here after returning from his three-day visit to the US and a working visit to the United Kingdom.
The prime minister shared how Trump had insisted on walking him to his car despite being told that it was parked in the basement.
“President Trump told his officer: ‘Never mind, he is my friend’,” said Najib.
He said Dr Mahathir should stop spreading lies to incite hatred among the people towards the government.
On the purchase of new Boeing aircraft for Malaysia Airlines, Najib said he only conveyed what the national carrier had decided in July last year.
“It is Malaysia Airlines that will benefit by having new aircraft,” he said.
Malaysia Airlines had signed a deal with the American aircraft maker to buy 16 aircraft during Najib’s visit to the US.
The deal includes eight 787-9 Dreamliners — by converting eight of Malaysia Airlines’ existing order of the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft — and eight additional purchase rights of the 737 MAX 8s, as well as Boeing’s Global Fleet Care service to maintain the airline’s Boeing aircraft.
On criticisms of Employees Provident Fund investments in the US, Najib said it was Dr Mahathir who had, in April 2005, said that EPF should invest abroad to get higher returns.
“He keeps making U-turns. It’s okay. We have the records (to show who is right and who is wrong). Let the people decide.”
He said he brought up the Rohingya crisis with Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May, following which the US had issued a strong statement on the plight of the Rohingya.