Democracy not ticket to badmouth country

SERDANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday said that democracy is not a ticket to badmouth the country.

He said even though the government was always open to differences, the act of mocking the country in pursuit of political gains was unacceptable.

"We can have different opinions in the democratic system bt it is not an excuse for anyone to badmouth our own country.

"Such action done in pursuit of political gains will only cause other countries to lose confidence in our country," he said at the 46th anniversary celebration of the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) at the Malaysian Agricultural Expo Park here yesterday.

Present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Rela director-general Zulkifli Abidin.

Najib said rampant acts of abusing freedom of speech in the name of democracy to the extent of badmouthing the country was done openly through social media.

The Prime Minister said such action also demonstrated the lack of ideas and agendas to develop the country by the parties concerned (those badmouthing the country), compared to the government which remained focused on prospering the people and the nation.

Najib also linked the lack of agendas to help the people with the 'difficulty' faced the oppositionled Selangor government to resolve water crises in the state. – Bernama