Why BN lost in GE14 – Najib
PEKAN: Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday poured his heart out in public over the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) defeat in the 14th General Election (GE14) and probes by the authorities against him.
Admitting to being aggrieved, disappointed and hurt, Najib claimed that BN’s loss was not due to the fact that the other coalition (Pakatan Harapan or PH) had a better agenda but because of the smear campaign against him in his capacity as the top leader.
Najib also said the facts had been spinned – such as the claims that the Malaysian economy was doing badly, the country was almost bankrupt, coupled with various sweet promises by the opponent – were among the reasons behind BN’s defeat.
Najib, who is also Pekan MP and Pekan Umno Division chief, said this at the simultaneous opening of Pekan Umno division and branch delegates conferences here yesterday.
He said his family members, particularly wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, had also faced accusations that she intervened in decisions made by him.
According to Najib, he had never said “Hold on, I need to ask my wife first” because all the decisions involving the country’s administration or the party (BN or Umno) were decided at the Cabinet meetings or the party’s Supreme Council.
Despite being saddened by the defeat, he said as someone who practises the principles of democracy, he accepted the people’s decision and had handed over power in a good manner.
Najib also admitted that he decided to pour his heart out in Pekan, where he started his career in politics, as the people here knew him well since he had served the constituency for 42 years.
He added that for more than 60 years, the rule of Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) had succeeded in bringing Malaysia from its humble beginnings to become a successful nation. He said the matter could not be denied because Malaysia now had achieved successes recognised at various levels in the world.
“In whatever situation in the past including us in Pekan, it was poverty but it has now changed into the face of a successful nation,” he said,
This is the first official function by the Pekan MP after BN lost the 14th general election (GE14) on May 9 which enabled Pakatan Harapan to take over the administration of the country.
Najib also said he did not steal from the people and claimed that he had been treated badly after BN lost in the 14th general election
“I’m not a person who steals what belongs to the people. The people of Pekan know I did not steal. For 42 years I have served the people here.
“Now I am targeted because I was a Prime Minister and the leader of the political party. So if my brand is weakened, then Umno’s name will also be weakened. This is a political strategy,” he told members of the Pekan Umno branch.
Najib also criticised those who pressured his wife and children and raided their homes.
“They even seized baby shoes belonging to my grandchild as well as my children’s wedding gifts,” he said.
Three apartments at Pavilion Residences, two of which belong to his children, were recently searched, as were Najib’s former office at the Prime Minister’s Department, the official residence of the prime minister and his residence in Taman Duta.
“What has 1MDB got to do with wedding gifts?
“If they want to take items, they must have proof. There must be a prima facie case against me that the items were illegally obtained,” he said.
He added his daughter’s wedding gifts should not surprise anyone as she had married someone from Kazakhstan who was of a high standing.
“Doesn’t my daughter deserve wedding gifts? She is married to someone who can afford it in Kazakhstan. Not someone who receives BR1M,” he said.
“What is wrong if my daughter’s father-in-law wants to give something? What has Kazakhstan got to do with 1MDB? Nothing.”
Najib said that as someone who believed in the principles of democracy, he respected the choice of the people and readily surrendered his position as Prime Minister.
“There were those who said that I would not surrender over power peacefully, that I would cause trouble but that didn’t happen,” he said.
Najib added that he would continue to support the fight for Umno’s case, even though Barisan Nasional no longer controls Putrajaya.
“I readily accept the defeat with an open heart but now we must continue to fight for the people and we must show the people that we are sincere,” said Najib who stepped down as Umno president last week.
The former prime minister left his residence in Jalan Langgak Duta, Taman Duta here yesterday morning for Pekan.
This is the first time Najib left the city after he cancelled his overseas trip after the May 9 polls, which saw his Barisan Nasional government being ousted from power for the first time in 61 years.
Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor had been blacklisted from leaving the country since last Saturday.
Earlier, over 50 Puteri Umno members led by its executive councillor Khaidirah Abu Zahar, or better known as Dira, visited Najib at his residence here to pledge their support for the former Umno president.
Speaking to reporters after the visit, Dira said the former party president had advised them not to give up and to continue fighting for the party.
“He (Najib) is very positive. He also advised us (Puteri Umno) to always stay united,” she said.
Najib’s residence in Taman Duta had also been closely guarded by members of the Royal Malaysia Police over the past week, while members of the media had been staking out around the area round the clock for any development related to the former prime minister.
Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he expected that Najib would be prosecuted following investigations into claims that the former prime minister had laundered hundreds of millions of US dollars from 1MDB fund.