DAP leaders should not engage with the lies of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s, because his act of subterfuge will give him the opportunity to distract global attention from the largest corruption and kleptocracy trial in history. I have received many requests from DAP leaders to respond to his outrageous lies, the latest on the proposed Penang undersea tunnel that he claimed cost RM6.3 billion, when the truth is that it was awarded by open tender for RM 3.6 billion.
The BN-controlled mainstream media and their social media will publicise his lies. What is the point of responding to the lies of a person who is so immoral and unethical that he has no sense of shame that tens of billions of ringgit of the nation’s funds were stolen through 1MDB? And yet he can be proud of his moniker, “Malu apa bossku”.
Najib has never explained fully the 1MDB scandal, the billions of ringgit in his personal bank account that led to not only corruption charges but also press reports that, reputedly, imposed upon him the largest individual tax assessment in Malaysian history. Najib has also not justified why he approved the payment of RM8.3 billion or 88% for 2 pipeline contracts amounting to RM9.4 billion, even though only 13% of the work was done. Worse, the 13% of work done remains unverified or unaudited.
Former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has also made racist and extremist attacks against PH leaders, especially DAP being his favourite soft target, to pit Malays against non-Malays or Muslims against non-Muslims. To respond to these lies will be to fall into his trap to play the victim that he is being attacked by all.
When these lies are exposed, he will cheekily dismiss them or blithely ignore them and slickly go on to the next lie. We should accept that Najib has attracted attention because he has become an object of curiosity just like any road accident, horror or tragedy.
Do not forget that there are fewer supporters attending his corruption trial as compared to that of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Do not forget too that Najib attracted huge public attention when he campaigned for the PBS candidate in the recent Sandakan by-election, and yet the DAP candidate Vivian Wong, won by a larger majority than the 2018 general elections.
Let us not waste time on Najib when history and the people in the 14th General Elections have already passed judgment on him. Instead we should redouble our efforts to bring positive change to the country, bring prosperity so that Malaysia can roar once again as an Asian economic tiger. Let us focus on the rakyat, by improving the standard of living, increase purchasing power and prosperity to all Malaysians as well as bring about institutional reforms promoting freedom, justice, rule of law and public integrity that can restore pride and dignity to Malaysians.
As for Najib, let the courts decide, let facts and figures prove that what Malaysia lost under his rule was worse than the wealth stolen by former Philippine President Marcos, and the thousand pairs of shoes owned by Imelda Marcos was nothing compared to the hundreds of luxury designer handbags confiscated by Malaysian authorities.