NAJIB WARNS AGAINST ALLOWING THE RETURN OF ‘MAHATHIRISM’
Govt must be led by a party with visionary ideas, says Najib
SARAWAK folk have been cautioned against allowing the return of “Mahathirism”, which will lead to a centralised administration.
Taking a swipe at Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government must be led by a party with visionary ideas for the future and not by a past leader trying to make a comeback.
“During the past eight years, I have visited Sarawak more than someone who had served (as prime minister) for 22 years.
“That person is now 93 and wants to make a comeback by offering himself as the prime minister. Even in Zimbabwe, they (the people) do not need a man of that age (to lead the country).
“What are his ideas? The return of Mahathirism means what? (It means) grabbing everything at the central… one man decides everything,” said Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman.
He said this at the closing of the Sarawak United Peoples’ Party’s (SUPP) 24th triennial delegates’ conference here yesterday.
Present were Chief Minister and Sarawak BN chairman Datuk Patinggi Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Abang Openg and SUPP president Professor Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, who is also state local government and housing minister.
Najib said he was committed to developing Sarawak and that he did not need “the power of one man”, unlike Dr Mahathir.
“He took away (power) from the rulers. The same goes for the country’s judiciary. He took away (the authority) from here and there. And, as revealed by our chief minister (Abdul Rahman Zohari), he had wanted to take over Sesco (Syarikat Sesco Bhd).
“Why? That is his thinking. That is Mahathirism. Do you want a return of Mahathirism?” Najib asked the delegates, who replied with a resounding “no”.
Unlike his predecessor, Najib said, he was willing to listen to the aspirations of leaders representing the people of Sarawak and Sabah for their rights to be restored.
He shared with 150 party delegates the fate of Sabah BN leader Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili, who is also energy, green technology and water minister.
Najib said Ongkili was jailed for a month under the repealed Internal Security Act (ISA) when the latter raised issues concerning the Malaysia Agreement 1963 with Dr Mahathir.
“When Sim raised the same issues, I did not place him under ISA. In fact, ISA was repealed under my administration. I believe that to be a stronger Malaysia, we must recognise the rights of the people of Sarawak and Sabah. I told them, if we (the Federal Government) had inadvertently or deliberately taken those rights away, we would give them back.
“However, I have only two conditions, which are there should be no talk of secession and the people continue to support BN. There is no reason why I have to worry if you want more rights as long as you continue supporting BN.”
Najib, who is also finance minister, responded to allegations that Malaysia was selling away its sovereignty to China over the government’s continuous effort to strengthen Malaysia-China diplomatic ties.
He said the government believed in boosting bilateral ties with major nations, such as China. Malaysia needed to be in the global market to prosper, he added.
“We cannot grow if we are not part of the global chain.
“There is a huge market in China.
“Due to the great demand in China, the price of Musang King has increased to RM100 per kg.”