I accept verdict of people — Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced yesterday his coalition’s acceptance of the people’s will in the newly-concluded 14th general election.
“I accept the verdict of the people and the Barisan Nasional (BN) party is committed to respecting the principles of a parliamentary democracy,” he told a packed hall at the Putra World Trade Centre here that was also broadcast “live” on television.
Najib was surrounded by top BN leaders, including his deputy Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who all wore sombre expressions.
In his speech, Najib pointed out that no party under the unregistered Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition won a simple majority on its own.
Citing from the Federal Constitution, he said it is up to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint the next prime minister who he believes has the support of the majority of members of Parliament.
The BN coalition won 79 parliamentary seats, DAP won 42 seats, PKR won 49 seats, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) won 10 seats and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) won 12 seats.
Pakatan ally Parti Warisan Sabah meanwhile, secured eight parliamentary seats.
DAP, PKR, Amanah and Bersatu contested under the PKR ticket. PKR also endorsed independent candidate P. Prabakaran, for the Batu parliamentary seat, after the Election Commission (EC) rejected incumbent Tian Chua’s candidacy, over a court-imposed fine of RM2,000.
In his speech, Najib also criticised messages over the internet among several tactics employed to spread unfounded allegations against his administration.
As example, he said there were messages claiming he had met with the National Security Council last night to declare a national emergency so they could enforce the National Security Act.
“That is another example of harassment towards the rakyat. A lie, as there was no NSC, and there really was not call for the meeting,’ Najib said.
In the first time since its 61year history, the Umno-led BN lost to PH by a considerably huge margin.
PH chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad told a separate news conference in Petaling Jaya, Selangor that his pact and its allies in Sabah and Sarawak collectively have control of 135 parliamentary seats, more than the 113 simple majority.