Najib cautions people over opposition 'tsunami' of defamation tactics

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today reminded the people against being influenced by the 'tsunami' of defamation tactics of the political opposition in the 14th general election campaign.
The Prime Minister said the opposition did not have a major agenda for the people except to topple him and the Barisan Nasional government.
At a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre here, Najib showed reporters a doctored photograph of him with, among others, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar viewing a model of the Taman Tugu project.
He said the photograph had been altered to show him looking at and counting the money on a table.
"Do not be taken in by such news or photographs in the social media because they (the opposition) will resort to as much defamation as they can," he said.
The BN chairman said the election should be contested based on the agenda for the people and the country.
"It means we have to choose the best agenda for the country and the people. Why do we need to resort to all this (defamation)?
"Because if you use this (defamation), it means you have already considered the fact that your agenda for this country is inferior, it cannot do better than the BN agenda for the people and the country. You are pretty desperate to get involved in gutter politics," he said.
Najib stressed that this election should be a fair fight based on democratic practices to choose a credible government to implement its policies and ideas.
Asked what could be done against those who committed such defamation, Najib said: “We can take action, but then they will accuse us of using excessive powers”.
Hence, he said the people should check the facts before coming to a conclusion.
He said the people should also make a choice taking into account the result of their decision in the last general election.
"The DAP-led government in Penang and PKR in Selangor, after ruling for 10 years, have failed to fulfill their promises and hopes for the people," he said.
The Prime Minister said he was optimistic that BN would get the people's mandate in GE14.
"I'm optimistic that we should do better, but I do not want to say we will win big. I just want to say that we will get the mandate from the people, and I'm hoping for a good victory for BN," he said.
The BN chairman said BN's victory would retain a strong and stable government, and bring confidence, especially in the economic sector.
"That will create more confidence and the global market will respond very positively. I think you talk about the stock exchange, equity market, foreign investment and security," he said.
Asked if there would be a Malay tsunami, Najib said: "In the last election, they came up with the slogan 'Ini kalilah' (This is the time to change). We do not want the voters to be deceived once again; they have been cheated many times. Every time the elections come, they will come up with a slogan to get support from the people.
"This election is not only about slogans, it's about the agenda, focusing on what the agenda is for the people. Fight on that basis," he said.
However, Najib said, the campaigning by PAS was conducted in a more responsible manner and was a healthy competition in the context of democracy. — Bernama