Beware of ‘tsunami of lies’ – Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional's (BN) rivals will soon resort to a “tsunami” of lies and disinformation, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak in predicting such tactics for the general election.
The BN chairman said this was because the informal Pakatan Harapan pact has run out of valid topics with which to attack him and the ruling coalition.
During a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre here, Najib showed reporters a photograph of him with, among others, caretaker natural resources and environment minister, Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director, Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, viewing a model of the Taman Tugu project.
He said the photograph had been doctored to instead show him looking at bundles of money on a table.
“Do not be taken in by such news or photographs on social media because they (the Opposition) will resort to as much defamation as they can,” he said.
“We should examine the facts before drawing a conclusion.”
Describing his rivals as lacking a cohesive national agenda, Najib expected them to resort to more such slander in their bid to win federal power.
Najib said that while BN would be able to withstand such an onslaught, he expressed misgivings about the repercussions of such tactics to the nation's harmony.
“We are ready to accept what will happen in the upcoming elections. This is our fight,” Najib said.
Najib suggested that the Opposition pact was now dominated by the DAP, which he said was working to divide the Malay community in its bid to win the general election under the guise of its “Ubah” campaign.
“DAP's administration in Penang and PKR's governance in Selangor for the past 10 years have failed to fulfill their promises and bring forward the change they have presented to the people,” he said.
Describing the difference between BN and PH, he said the ruling coalition put public interest first when preparing its manifestos and selecting candidates, adding that general elections were a crucial opportunity for the nation to set its development agenda.
In contrast, he said the Opposition focused its strategy on undermining the country's image both at home and abroad.
“Let's make this a fair fight… there is no need to resort to dirty tactics.
“I would like to remind the voters that GE14 is a process to select the government at state and federal levels, to manage our livelihood for the next five years to come,” he said.
He reminded voters not to lose sight of the importance in choosing a government that is committed to improving their welfare and charting the country's economic progress in the manner BN has done for decades.
Najib also took aim at the Opposition's strategy of moving candidates all over the country, saying that BN's hopefuls were rooted in their constituencies and concerned with local issues rather than simply being interested in winning.
“We have delivered in the last five years and will continue to deliver. We ask for fresh mandate for us to govern the next five years with the trust, confidence, and support of the people.
“I feel there is good sense and the future with BN is bright for all Malaysians,” he said.