Salleh rebuts Liew's article on government controversies

PETALING JAYA: Local and international trust towards government transparency continues to rise even with the emergence of several controversies including the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said any accusations aimed at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak would remain as a claim unless it was proven in court.
In a rebuttal to an article by Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong, Salleh said many issues raised by the DAP leader had been previously answered by the government.
"In Chin Tong's claims, until any evidence could be presented in court, any accusations targeted at Najib are merely a claim meant to create public perception," he said.
"Now, it is clear that the rakyat are tired with such accusations and day by day, the public and international community's trust towards government transparency is increasing," he said in a blog post today.
Liew in an article published in Malaysiakini last Friday claimed that Najib had lost the public support following controversies on several issues including the 1MDB, US's Department of Justice and Felda Global Ventures.
Salleh said the article by Liew on Najib's purported strategic planning to remain in power after the 14th General Election was filled with assumptions.
"Chin Tong claimed ... Najib had planned to dissolve the Dewan Rakyat in September or October. This is what I meant by assumption as no one knows when Najib will advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to do so," he said.
"Currently, Umno and BN are focusing the time to plan the country's economy development to ensure rakyat's welfare, while the opposition is daydreaming everyday waiting for the dissolution," he added.
Salleh also refuted Liew's claim, which he said was based on rumours, that Najib would be dropping several Mentri Besar and Chief Minister after the election.
"The reason Chin Tong wrote in such manner was to show how Najib no longer trust his own MBs.
"This was Chin Tong's assumption to portray Najib's weak position, when in reality Najib continues to receive the support among Umno leaders, government servants and rakyat," he said.