Futile electing parties furthering personal agendas - Najib
BEAUFORT, May 7 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today reminded the people, especially those in Sabah, to reject the opposition parties, saying it will be futile to elect parties formed merely to further personal agendas.
The Prime Minister said the people should give the Barisan Nasional the mandate instead because the coalition's struggle was clearly in the people's interests.
Najib said it was needless to elect the political pact led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad because he was a 'recycled' leader and had not done much for Sabahans when he was the prime minister for 22 years.
"Why do we need a retiree? The retiree does not love Sabahans. During the 11 days of campaigning, he has not come to Sabah. Why? Because he has not done much for Sabahans."
"Sabahans still remember. Sabahans do not forget easily. He (Dr Mahathir) forgets easily. Sabahans remember, who loves Sabah? Najib Razak or Dr Mahathir??" he asked, and the gathering at the meet-the-people session at Dataran Bagandang erupted into a roar of 'Najib'.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Federal Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister and BN candidate for Beaufort Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun, BN candidate for the Klias state seat Datuk Isnin Aliasni and BN candidate for the Kuala Penyu state seat Datuk Limus Juri were also present at the event.
Najib, who is also BN chairman and UMNO president, said Sabahans should also not elect candidates of Parti Warisan Sabah, represented by a sailing boat, because the people would need a huge and modern vessel to ride the oceans.
He put a question to the audience and they replied that they preferred to ride the oceans with the 'Barisan' vessel.
Najib reiterated his commitment to develop Sabah, a task he said was neglected by the prime minister who had administered the country for 22 years, in reference to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said Dr Mahathir had rejected a proposal to build the Pan Borneo Highway which was later approved by him (Najib). He said the Pan Borneo Highway would not be a tolled road but the highway with the most number of toll gates was built during Dr Mahathir's administration.
The Prime Minister reminded the people to be wary and not believe the fake news circulating of late, including one that the present government was bankrupt.
"It is not correct that the government is bankrupt. Our national debt is only 50.8 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product," he said, adding that it was 103 per cent of GDP during Dr Mahathir's time.
"Why was he not questioned about this? Why lie now?," he asked.
Najib said Japan's national debt was 235 per cent of its GDP, Singapore's was 110 per cent of GDP and the United Kingdom's 85 per cent of GDP.
As such, he said, Malaysia was not a failed or bankrupt state because the BN government had managed the economy well.
At the event, Najib said he had reserved RM15 million for the construction of basic facilities for the people in the Beaufort parliamentary constituency.
-- BERNAMA
