Vote BN to maintain peace, harmony: DPM

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today spoke about “Malaysia then and now” to highlight Barisan Nasional’s (BN) accomplishments, during his campaign to touch base with the Malay community here.

Speaking to more than 1,200 BN supporters in the Pasir Panjang state constituency, he said Malaysia has achieved all that it has today because of BN’s efforts and urged the people not to forget the services of the government.

“The Opposition will always say that development in Malaysia is unfair and that it helps only one race and neglects others.

“You can see for yourselves whether the allegations hurled at the government are true,” Muhyiddin said.

Stressing that Perak is one of the states in the country that has reduced its poverty rate, he said this could only be achieved under BN.

Pointing to the growing economy in the country, Muhyiddin compared how people lived 30 years ago to the living standards today.

“This is the reason all of you should vote for BN. All these years, people have lived comfortably and peacefully.

“Do you want to change this situation? Do you want a country with chaos and disharmony?” he asked.

Muhyiddin said the Opposition’s cries for change (ubah) will not work, because the people are comfortable with what they have now.

DATUK SERI NAJIB RAZAK WANTS A TEAM THAT CAN CONTRIBUTE TO HIS TRANSFORMATION POLICIES

OBVIOUSLY the loss of its two-thirds parliamentary majority meant that more than 75 seats in the last Parliament were not held by Barisan Nasional (BN). Simple arithmetic, therefore, would dictate that 33 per cent of the BN candidates for the coming general election should be new faces because those who lost in 2008 cannot be offered again.

The overriding fact is that Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the BN chairman, wants a team that can contribute effectively to his transformation policies and take the country out of the middle-income economic trap. And, in trying to restore the absolute majority that has been the governing coalition’s pleasure all these years, his strategy must be to field winners.

These two goals together would dictate the need for candidates that have much expertise to offer in building the nation and that the voters can trust. The latter is not the easiest when deciding on new faces and yet they are necessary to BN’s succession plan. Herein is where the veterans have a special role to play, that is, to gracefully step down from their safe seats and make way for new blood. The BN line-up must look its part as a party that will usher in the future successfully, oozing with confidence, one from which the prime minister-elect is spoilt for choice when putting his cabinet together.

Indeed, there is ultimately a need for a good mix of the wise and the knowledgeable; the conventional and the radical; and, the established and the novel. However, one aspect of politics that ought to be phased out is the wheeling and dealing that has so often thwarted change and caused disillusionment among voters. The BN chief, in anticipating possible protests from these elements, has said that any unhappiness should be nursed only for 24 hours and then it must be business as usual: the local party machinery cranked up and immediately running to carry the candidate, local or otherwise, forward.

BN is a mature and stable coalition. Already, seats are being swapped by component parties in recognition of demographic changes, a clear indication that the imperative is winning, and winning big. Given this atmosphere, there is little fear of disgruntled voices disrupting the unity that has withstood five years of recriminations since March 8, 2008. Rather, the much anticipated moment to redeem past mistakes is here. Anyone out to stir the hornet’s nest will have no support. The priority forBN leaders and workers is to remind the country that the coalition has delivered peace and prosperity without fail.

MALAYSIAN ELECTION SET FOR MAY 5

Malaysia’s general election will be held on May 5, an electoral official said on Wednesday, setting a long-awaited date for highly anticipated polls tipped to be the closest in the country’s history.

A supporter of the ruling National Front coalition, or Barisan Nasional, carries manifestos at a stadium in Bukit Jalil, a suburb of Kuala Lumpur, on April 6, 2013. PM Najib Razak unveiled a manifesto on Saturday pledging bigger cash handouts, millions of new jobs and lower taxes and crime, as he seeks his first mandate in looming national polls.

Speaking a week after Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolved parliament, Election Commission chairman Aziz Yusof also said balloting would be preceded by a two-week official campaign period kicking off on April 20.

The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), which has controlled Malaysia through coalition governments since independence in 1957, faces a formidable opposition that has gained ground with promises to end corruption, cronyism and authoritarian rule.

The opposition surged to its best showing ever in the 2008 vote, shattering the ruling regime’s decades-old aura of invincibility.

Under UMNO, multi-ethnic Malaysia became a regional economic success story while enjoying relative harmony between majority ethnic Malays and its sizeable racial minorities.

Prime Minister Najib hopes to extend the government’s unbeaten run in the polls by focusing on his steady economic stewardship and a torrent of cash handouts and other sweeteners to the public.

But the opposition has won support with pledges of a more open era, enjoying unprecedented freedom to get its message past state-controlled mainstream media via an uncensored Internet.

Speculation over a polling date had reached fever pitch in the past two years but Najib set the stage on April 3 by dissolving parliament, which was due to automatically expire at the end of the month.

The UMNO-controlled Barisan Nasional (National Front) coalition has romped to thumping majorities in every election so far, but lost its powerful two-thirds majority five years ago.

It now faces the fight of its life against the Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Pact) opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim

GE13: BN MANIFESTO A RAY OF HOPE FOR PEOPLE

KUALA LUMPUR, The Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Saturday night left the audience hopeful that Malaysia will remain prosperous under the leadership of the BN government.

With promises of various incentives and opportunities, many individuals met after the assembly said the manifesto meets their aspirations to ensure their continuous wellbeing.

Atan Sampol, 56, a former village head from Perak, said quality health services and implementation of the privilege card system for discount on medication were most helpful, especially for senior citizens.

“The discount card lessens their burden by allowing them to obtain medication at reasonable prices,” he told Bernama after the launch of the BN manifesto here.

N. Manogaran, 52, an estate supervisor from Perak, said the manifesto promised more for the people compared to the previous one.

“For example, affordable housing will not only help the low-income group to own a home but also those who are just starting to earn an income,” he said.

For How Tai San, 51, a private sector employee from Wangsa Maju, the promise for a more effective public transportation was something city residents looked forward to.

Norini Ali, 42, from Muadzam Shah, said as a mother to four school-going children, BN’s call to strive for academic excellence was pleasant to hear.

“The introduction of a scheme to own a laptop with internet access makes me realise how lucky my children are at a time when there is fierce competition in academics,” she said.

Adila Abu Bakar, 35, from Batu Pahat, Johor, said the BN manifesto did not forget women and placed them as a mover of the economy.

“Although I am a housewife, with the opportunity promised by the government to set up a business and incentive to work from home, women like myself including single mothers can be more independent,” she said

Najib Tun Razak Calls Malaysia Polls With 5-Decade Rule on Line

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak dissolved parliament in preparation for elections that will determine whether his ruling coalition extends its unbroken hold on power since independence in 1957.

Under Malaysian law the contest must be held within 60 days of the dissolution of the legislature. The Election Commission will meet in a few days to announce a date for the poll, spokesman Sabri Said said in a text message.

“The ultimate power of choosing the government lies in the peoples’ hands,” Najib Tun Razak said in a televised address. “Over the past five decades we’ve achieved stability and prosperity in this country. I hope we’ll continue this tradition.”

The 13-party Barisan Nasional coalition, which won the 2008 national vote by its slimmest margin, faces a resurgent opposition alliance led by former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. The prospect of an even closer election result has helped make the FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index one of the worst performing Asian benchmarks this year. The gauge fell as much as 3.1 percent today, the most since October 2011.

“We expect the Barisan Nasional coalition to have less seats in the aftermath of the 13th general election, but not enough to lose their majority,” said Anand Pathmakanthan, head of Malaysia research at CLSA Asia-Pacific Markets. “If you talk to most investors, their best case scenario is that Najib stays as well because they can’t see what comes after.”

The KLCI index has gained 82 percent during Najib’s three years as leader as of yesterday’s close, about three times less than benchmarks in Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines.

Stocks Fall
The index fell 1.2 percent to 1,664.33 as of 11:56 a.m. local time. The ringgit, Asia’s fifth-worst performing currency this year, was little changed.

Najib Tun Razak said all government-controlled state assemblies are also dissolved. The ruling coalition lost control of five of the country’s 13 states in the 2008 election to Anwar’s People’s Alliance. The government later regained control of Perak state following defections.

Members of Najib’s Cabinet applauded him today when he arrived in Putrajaya, the administrative center outside Kuala Lumpur, to chair a weekly meeting, state-run Bernama news agency reported. Today is the fourth anniversary of his tenure as prime minister.

Najib Tun Razak, 59, leads the coalition to the polls for the first time. He came to power in 2009 after Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stepped down as prime minister following the narrower election win a year earlier.

Corruption Perceptions
Najib Tun Razak  is more popular than his government, according to the Merdeka Center for Opinion Research. His approval rating slipped to 61 percent in February from 63 percent in December, a survey of 1,021 voters conducted Jan. 23 to Feb. 6 on the country’s peninsula showed. By contrast, 48 percent of respondents said they were “happy” with the government.

Barisan Nasional has struggled to reverse perceptions of entrenched corruption and sufficiently address concerns over higher living costs, according to Ibrahim Suffian, a political analyst at the Merdeka Center. More voters under 40 years of age are now accessing news reports online, he said, and “the government narrative isn’t always dominant anymore.”

“Economic growth was pretty strong at the end of last year and we can see some improvement in the numbers, but not nearly enough to significantly boost the government’s chances,” Ibrahim said by phone.

Economic Growth
Malaysia’s economy has expanded by more than 5 percent for each of the past six quarters through the end of 2012, buoyed by domestic demand and investment.

Najib leads a “weak government” and isn’t himself the problem, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said in an interview in August. Mahathir won five straight elections as leader before stepping down in 2003.

The prime minister is seeking to capitalize on goodwill from cash payments and other pre-election sweeteners announced in the government’s 2012 and 2013 budgets. He raised salaries of civil servants, including police and the armed forces, on March 12, costing the government 1.5 billion ringgit ($483 million).

The government has also been distributing a second round of 500-ringgit cash handouts to low-income households among the nation’s 29 million people as the election draws near.

Najib Tun Razak to convene meeting to find solution on recognition of uec to enter ipta

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will soon convene a meeting with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education to find a solution that will be acceptable to all on the recognition of Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) to enter local public higher learning institutions (IPTA).
In a joint statement by Najib tun Razak and United Chinese School Committees’ Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong), it said the meeting yesterday, among others had discussed on the issue concerning the recognition of the UEC which relates
to applications for entering IPTA.
“There was a discussion on requirement of students from Chinese medium schools to have at least a credit in Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) Bahasa Malaysia paper along with the UEC, as a condition for applying to IPTA.
“There was also discussion on the issue of accreditation to the UEC Bahasa Malaysia subject,” it said.
Yesterday, Najib Tun Razak met six representatives from Dong Zong at the Prime Minister’s Office at Kompleks Perdana Putra here.
Najib Tun Razak became the first prime minister to have met Dong Zong since it was established 59 years ago.
Dong Zong was led by its chairman, Dr Yap Sin Tian, deputy chairman Chow Siew Hon, vice chairmen Kho Hai Meng and Wang Toon Jui, secretary-general Poh Chin Chuan and treasurer Lim Kock Chai.
In the historic one-hour meeting, Najib and Dong Zong representatives also discussed and exchanged ideas on the betterment of Chinese education in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Yap said Dong Zong was hoping to get some good news from the prime minister, however, there were some ‘technical problems’ on the accreditation of Bahasa Malaysia subject in UEC which need further discussion.
“We hope to get some good news soon… maybe before the general election,” he told reporters here yesterday. — Bernama

Najib Tun Razak : Two-thirds majority for BN achievable

Najib Tun Razak

REMARKABLE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE: A Barisan Nasional victory will result in unprecedented boom in the stock market
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is cautiously optimistic that the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition will attain victory in the general election, which could be called in a matter of days.
In an interview with the Financial Times daily journalist Jeremy Grant at his office in Putrajaya last week, Najib Tun Razak said achieving two-thirds majority was “achievable”.
“But I realise that in an election, anything could happen. That’s why I say I’m cautiously optimistic.
“Investors are looking for a strong mandate for the current government. If we should, or rather when we get a good result, you will see an unprecedented boom in the stock market. I’m quite confident of that,” he said.
Under Najib’s leadership, the country had seen a remarkable economic performance, which the International Monetary Fund last year described as having “surpassed expectations”.
The economy grew 5.5 per cent, driven by domestic demand and the buoyant exports of commodities such as gas and palm oil.
The daily reported that the country had also benefited from an economic programme introduced by Najib, who is finance minister, which aimed to double per capita income to US$15,000 (RM46,510) by 2020.
Such strong economic reforms have instilled external confidence in the current administration, which saw foreign holdings of Malaysian government bonds jump by 550 per cent to RM215 billion (US$69 billion).
According to the daily, the recent campaign by the Najib-led administration to root out Filipino intruders in Sabah could also give the premier a boost, especially from nationalist-minded voters.
On if he would introduce general sales tax, Najib Tun Razak said: ” I will look at the tax structure, definitely, because we need to enhance the revenue base. The government’s revenue base has to be predicted on much stronger footing.”
Najib Tun Razak took a swipe at the Pakatan Rakyat coalition’s economic proposals as contained in its manifesto, which included raising the minimum wage, abolishing monopolies in telecommunications and rice, and removing excise duty on vehicles.
“I think it is too risky to put faith in a coalition that does not have a clear sense of direction that they want to take the country in. They have also presented a manifesto that is not credible,” he said, adding that the manifesto would send Malaysia’s current account into deficit within a year.
The prime minister said the government was “equally concerned about corruption”, adding that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was focused.
“Prostitution and corruption are two things that mankind has had to live with for so long, but we are determined to tackle it. It is a scourge. But it is something that will not go away overnight.”
On his decision to make changes in Umno’s constitution last year making it easier to challenge the leadership, Najib Tun Razak said by doing so, he had made Umno “more democratic, more inclusive”.
“Of course, by doing that, I’m putting myself at risk. But I believe that what we’re doing is good for the country and good for the party.”

NAJIB TUN RAZAK : VOTE BN FOR PEACE AND STABILITY

KUALA KANGSAR: A vote for Barisan Nasional in the general election is a vote for peace and stability.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Barisan aimed to bring peace, stability and prosperity to the country and urged the people to support the Government.

In his rallying call to the people, Najib Tun Razak said the Government would not gamble away the future of the country and would work towards becoming a developed nation.

“The Opposition only thinks about chaos. A vote for them is a vote for riots, disturbances and demonstrations,” he said during his opening speech of the 1Malaysia Veteran Recognition Programme here yesterday.

Najib Tun Razak said Barisan was united and had good leadership and experiences to bring the country forward.

“Have faith and trust in us. What Barisan promised, we will fulfil,” he said.

Yesterday, Najib Tun Razak also attended the wedding reception of Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek’s eldest daughter at the Bukit Kiara Sports Complex in Kuala Lumpur, Bernama reported.

Accompanied by his daughter Nooryana Najwa, Najib Tun Razak spent an hour at the wedding mingling with guests and posing for photographs with the bride and groom Nurkhalida Ahmad Shabery and Qaiyum Hasnul.

There were about 4,000 guests, including former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, as well as National Sports Council director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong.

Meanwhile, Najib Tun Razak extended his deepest condolences to the families of victims killed in the Friday mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school in the United States.

“It’s a tragic incident and Malaysia stands by your side,” said the Prime Minister in his tweet.

Don’t waste time on Anwar, says Daim

THIS is final part of the interview with former finance minister TunDaimZainuddin, who helped the Malaysian economy survive the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Without mincing words, Daim discussed with New Straits Times journalists A. JALIL HAMID, RASHID YUSOF and HARIZMOHD and photographer ZAHARIZAKARIA the key events during the “Mahathir Years”, including the events which led to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s downfall.

Question: Media reports suggested at the time of your departure from the cabinet in 1991 that TunDr Mahathir Mohamad had three names in mind as the new finance minister — Tan Sri SanusiJunid, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Was this indeed the case?

Answer: Rafidah was then the minister for trade, having been appointed to the post after the Team A versus Team B split in 1987. Sanusi was minister for agriculture.

Dr Mahathir wasn’t too sure about Anwar. He said, “I don’t think Anwar can handle the ministry of finance” given his academic background. He was a graduate in Malay studies.

My counter argument went along this line — “I think if you want him to be your successor you have to groom him.

“I can help him and guide him, give advice.”

In the end, I managed to convince Dr Mahathir.

Anwar used to come to my house very often to seek my advice on matters related to the ministry of finance.

Najib Tun Razak would also bring me to to his house for lunch very often. His aunt cooked my favourite dishes.

Question: Given that Anwar had later named you as the “chief conspirator” leading to his sacking from the cabinet in 1998, when did things actually turn sour?

Answer: There was no fallout between us until he started accusing me of being a chief conspirator. This is an old story. No one is interested in the whys and wherefores. It is the now and the future that people are interested in.

Really, we should not waste time with Anwar. He is past his use-by date. His time had come and gone.

I also think that you should not give so much news space to him. That’s what he likes. He does not like to be ignored, so ignore him I say. He should be left to be the entertainer that he is, dancing and singing at ceramahs. As I said his time is gone, like a burungpunggokmerindukanbulan, (a dog barking at the caravans, and the caravans have moved on).

But as you keep insisting, I will answer. The best person to speak about Anwar is Sanusi. They were in school together.

They were in Abim (AngkatanBelia Islam Malaysia) and in the cabinet, and Sanusi was secretary-general of Umno. Anyway, I promised to answer so I will answer.

Okay, my answer to Anwar — I’m no Cassius. I maybe thin but I don’t have the hungry look. And definitely, I’m no Brutus.

When Anwar claim- ed that I was the conspirator, he knows the truth that I played no part, no role whatsoever. I knew nothing about the case until I was told about it. I might be a busybody, but I do not interfere with people’s private life. I don’t want people to know about mine either. I don’t want to know what people do behind closed doors. I’m not interested. People whispered to me, but I said, “Look, we are all human, we all have weaknesses.”

But I understand he was under pressure, it was his political survival and he was a drowning man, clutching at whatever to keep himself afloat, plus he knew that I would never answer any allegations thrown at me. I thought I was his friend and he was in trouble, and I let it be.

I also thought that it was so farfetched that it was laughable. Anwar, for example said I took out RM2 billion cash by plane. I must be an idiot, and any way how much is RM2 billion cash? Probably a few lorries to transport!

At the end of the day, truth will always prevail. You can’t hide it. If not today, one day, the truth would be told. In the case of his supporters, even if he were to do all that he is alleged to have done, right on the carpet in front of their eyes, they will not believe. To them, everything is a conspiracy.

Anwar’s problem was that his image was whiter than white. When stories got around because he got this image, it’s difficult for people to believe. In life, some things are too strange to be true but they are true.

As Sherlock Holmes said, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth”.

There was a myth about Kennedy, too, but people did not talk about it during his lifetime. After his death, you read about him and what he did behind closed doors.

Question: There was talk back then that your motivation in ousting Anwar was that you were anxious about protecting your business interests?

Answer: That was his line, that he was this super hero fighting crime and corruption and, therefore, had to be brought down. If you know the things about him that I know, that line of his is hilarious, and the cheek of it all, to claim righteousness.

I had then retired and what business interests did I have? I had to sell all my assets before joining the government in 1984.

But later on, after I had left, when I was made chairman of the northern triangle, there was a clause in the agreement that I would be able to venture into business. I was not a member of the cabinet anyway.

I ventured overseas after my retirement. I didn’t want to do my business in Malaysia. But after my banks overseas became successful I needed to have a bank locally, I bought a bank. You can check, it was very expensive, I paid higher than anybody else. At that time, the highest anybody ever paid for a bank. This was a one-branch bank. Later, I sold this bank, too, when I rejoined the government at the last financial crisis. I really should stop buying banks in Malaysia. Every time I buy one, I’m made minister of finance and have to sell them.

Immediately after my retirement, I went away to Harvard University, in particular to the Kennedy School of Government as a visiting scholar.

Anwar kept calling me in Boston. (He asked) why I stayed there and asked me to come back. He needed me to help him, but I said I was enjoying my stay. I met a lot of people.

It was at Harvard that I met Francis Seow (who once served as Singapore’s solicitor-general). He was writing books. Interesting books. You should read his books. We became good friends and often exchanged views over lunch.

Then it was about the so-called “Daim Boys”.

They were also very close with Anwar after I left.

Most were Malay College old boys. They were in school with Anwar.

Yahya (the late Tan Sri Yahya Ahmad) was his head boy and Halim (Tan Sri HalimSaad) was at the Malay College.

Anwar, through his accusations, repeated the lie that I wanted this contract and that contract, and that because he was in the way, I got rid of him. A lie repeated many times, unfortunately, becomes a truth.

What contract? I want to ask, which contract did I or my family secure? Show me.

Show me one single contract I got from the government.

So I have always maintained, the danger with Anwar is that Anwar is more Sukarno than anything else. All fiery speeches, completely economical with the truth and an instigator at his best.

Question: Was there a turning point, one that had caused a fall- out?

Answer: There was no particular fallout. I was his scapegoat, among many other scapegoats. I was his friend, Dr Mahathir defended him. I told him not to open the Pandora’s box by making a police report but he thought he was clever.

I’ve told you earlier that you should not waste news space on Anwar. But you insist and I’m answering only to make the point that if you have Pakatan and him leading Pakatan, then we are heading down the road to disaster. He was tested during the Asian financial crisis and he failed. I also think that he failed not just because of his policies, but also of his motivation. Dr Mahathir, for example, was totally offended by the crisis. He could not bear to see what he had taken time to build destroyed because of the greed of speculators and financial vultures, and he wanted to make sure the country was safe again.

Question: Some commentators had pointed out that Anwar at the time of the crisis did not help by raising interest rates to such a high level?

Answer: In the case of Anwar, at that time, he was really badly advised.

Because all along we know, Anwar on his own did not know what to do.

He has to get people to advise him and that was OK so long as you get good advice.

And of course at that time he really liked (Michel) Camdessus of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and James Wolfensohn of the World Bank.

And he was also close to Robert Rubin (secretary of treasury of the United States).

All these people later came to endorse him.

But you see, different countries have different environments, different stages of development, different conditions.

It’s not the same.

You look at what happened during that crisis to South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and us.

There’s Singapore, China and Japan.

During that time, Anwar’s stance was “follow what was advised by the IMF and World Bank”.

That would be a normal reaction — in a crisis like this, you need some big fellows to come and advise.

Because if there’s any trouble, the IMF and World Bank will come and assist.

And if America backs you, you are also okay. And America has big influence over the IMF and World Bank.

In the case of South Korea, it wanted to borrow from Japan so that it would not go down.

But America refused to help. America told the Japanese not to help, so it went down and mind you, South Korea was close to the US. Don’t expect the US to support us.

At that time, Robert Zoellick, who was deputy secretary of state, made it known that the doors were open for the American companies to go in to pick up companies at fire-sale prices.

This was the case with Indonesia when they came in and took almost everything they wanted.

They killed Thailand, too.

We saw what was happening. Dr Mahathir understood.

He said: “What we built… will be destroyed”.

Years of growth and stability will be wiped out.

And if we are not careful, there might be riots like in Indonesia, South Korea and Thailand.

Probably worse.

So, he had to think how to stop it.

Question: Based on your articulation on the political scenario, you are troubled not by Anwar’s so- called misconduct but more of his character?

Answer: I’m worried that he has not got the depth on economics.

If he again becomes the finance minister or prime minister, his inclination is to take the American line.

America is in crisis, Europe is in crisis.

He likes to identify with Europe, America and Australia.

He tried to get Australia to support him, to condemn and say our election will not be fair, etc.

He talks of Arab Spring, but he said the Arab Spring here is not a revolution but through the ballot box.

He had been telling the world that he will win this election.

If PR were to lose, it would be because of unfair practices and mobs could then go to the streets to protest. He promised to form the government in September 2008. Everybody got jittery and many believed him. That is his style. He is all talk and promises. Now, he tells the world he will win.

But the government isn’t even responding. There has never been riggings in elections here. Last election, they formed five state governments.

Otherwise, how did the opposition win so many seats if the government rigged elections?

No election is perfect in this world.

But he has started this, and the government must respond.

Anwar is conditioning the minds of the people here and telling the world PR will win but he knows he cannot win.

As I said earlier, I question his (and also Pakatan’s) motivation. His personal ambition is so overriding and an obsession that he does not care that it will be at the expense of peace and stability in his country.

Can you imagine the scenario if Pakatan does not get to Putrajaya? He will go on to claim that it is rigged and then bring on the Arab Spring here. Instigate the people that under BarisanNasional, their votes were stolen and they have to go out to the streets to reclaim their votes.

This will cause havoc and he won’t care because his ambition overrides all other considerations. And Pakatan doesn’t care, too, because they are on the same ride.

Daim backs Najib Razak , rejects Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR: Former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin says Najib Tun Razak is doing a fairly good job and should be given the mandate to lead the country and continue with his transformation policies.

Urging voters to give Najib Razak the chance for five years, the Umno veteran said: “Test him. Give him the mandate. He is doing a fairly good job. Let’s see him deliver and continue with his transformation policies.”
In an interview with the New Sunday Times, Daim indicated his preference for Najib Razak to win instead of Anwar Ibrahim whom he deemed as not the right candidate to be the prime minister.

“If you ask me, between the two, Najib Razak or Anwar, I would choose Najib. I will give Najib Razak the chance. Give him the mandate and see whether he delivers because Anwar has had his chances, but he blew them.
“I want Najib to win because I don’t think Anwar is the right candidate to be prime minister,” he said.

“I believe he will mess up the country by getting advice from the likes of the IMF (International Monetary Fund), World Bank and Wolfowitz (Paul Wolfowitz, former World Bank president),” he said.
Daim, who served as the finance minister from 1984 to 1991 and as the special functions minister in 1998 before being reappointed as the finance minister from 1999 to 2001, said it was dangerous if an opposition under Anwar was to lead the country.

“I am worried as he does not have the depth in economy, always needed people to tell him — what to think and what to do,” he said.
So far, he said, there had not been even one significant idea from Anwar as the economic advisor to the Selangor government. Worse, he said, Selangor had badly handled its water issue, which had dismayed developers, investors and the people.

“Why doesn’t he (Anwar) become economic advisor to Kelantan and Kedah if Pakatan believes he is good? Think seriously. Think of our future,” he said.
Reshuffle the cabinet

To a question that Anwar believed that he was destined to become the next prime minister, Daim said: “Well, destiny is an act of God. You can be only one heartbeat away from that post but man proposes, God disposes. I think God still loves Malaysia.”

Daim said he would support Najib Razak but the prime minister must fight corruption and crime, strengthen the nation’s security and review the education system.
He also said that Najib Razak should reshuffle the cabinet.

“Bring in new faces. People think he is carrying too much deadwood in the cabinet. Most are already past their use-by date,” he said.
On the chances of the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the general election, Daim, whose prognosis was interestingly followed, said BN would win but there must be unity within the coalition.“Umno has about 3.3 million members, MCA, about one million and MIC, about 600,000. That’s already about half of the voters.

“Now, you only need some support from the fence-sitters, you should then be able to win. But BN must put new and clean candidates who are acceptable to voters,” he said.

Daim said that if the BN was not united, the opposition pact would do better, as what happened in 2008.
“Stay united, be loyal and don’t sabotage. We need a steady and experienced hand. Only BN has the experience.
“We have gone through crisis after crisis, and recovered very quickly. We have to tell the Chinese that we cannot experiment. Look at Japan. Look around us. Look at Britain. Study what is happening,” he said.
Daim said Anwar had repeatedly said that there would be an Arab Spring-like demonstration should the opposition lose in the next general election because of what they deem as “cheating”.
“He (Anwar) has set the stage to justify their losses if they lose in the next general election. Pakatan is prepping the people so that they can scapegoat the government and the Election Commission.
“First, we are not an Arab country. And second, if there was rigging in previous general elections, how did Pakatan win five states in 2008?
“Arab Spring has turned out to be an Arab Fall (for the lack of a unifying leadership and the instability it has induced),” he said.