Najib Razak says he does not care if there are hate campaigns against him because even Mahathir Mohamad faced criticism when he was PM.
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Razak has made fun of former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad for cooperating with political leaders from the Opposition, who were once his biggest enemies.
He said this when asked by Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh) if he was aware of hate campaigns being launched against him. “I am very aware of what’s happening and I don’t really care because when Tun Mahathir was the prime minister, he, too, faced criticism.
“Back then Mahathir faced a lot of accusations. They (Opposition politicians) called him “maha firaun” (pharoah) and “maha zalim” (despot), but now they sit together.
“I just want to say that as the PM, I will continue to focus on what’s important to the country. If we are consistent, one day the people will appreciate the government,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Mahathir has been at the forefront of a year-long campaign to oust Najib as the prime minister by attacking the latter on state-owned investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Meanwhile, Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya Utara) asked Najib about the measures he would take to counter the confidence crisis in the country as well as the allegations made by the media about him, as “there has never been more negative media attention in the country’s history.”
Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, however, advised Najib that he did not have to answer Pua’s question if he did not want to, as it had diverted from the original issue.
Najib however said, “The Opposition is always waiting for a chance. What’s important is our achievement. Our economic development is the one of the best in the world.”
“The issues played up in the media is well orchestrated,” Najib continued, adding that all he wanted to do was stay dutiful to the people who he served and let Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee decide on the issues of 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion donation.
“The process of accountability in the country will continue,” Najib said.
According to Bernama, Najib gave his assurance that he and his Barisan Nasional (BN) colleagues will continue to persevere and focus on running the administration regardless of whatever political attacks received by the coalition.
“No matter what the attacks are, we (the BN) should not lose direction, do not lose our focus. We are still committed to implement our plans if we succeed and are recognised at the international level,” he said when replying to a supplementary question from Annuar Musa (BN-Ketereh) at the Dewan Rakyat, here today.
Annuar, in his supplementary question, had asked whether Najib realised that he was facing pressure and the hate campaign launched, and what was the stand of the prime minister on the matter.
Najib said he was aware and was not surprised by what was happening to him and would remain committed in implementing the economic plan that had been drawn up.
“If we continue to persevere and remain consistent, sooner or later the people will appreciate the efforts taken by the government,” he said.
-FMT NEWS-
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