Pakatan's policies 'regressive': Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: In his first speech as an opposition MP, former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak spoke about a number of key issues and called Pakatan Harapan's policies "regressive" since it came into power all the while managing to steer clear from the 1MDB scandal that had dogged his political career.
"If we look at the policies of the new government, are we returning to a bygone era with their New Malaysia?" the former prime minister said during the motion of thanks on the royal address in Parliament today.
The Pekan MP also said that certain economic policies that were taken under his leadership had made the economy strong and resilient and the Pakatan Harapan government are left with the benefits of a strong economy.
He also said that there will definitely be a round of price hikes when the Sales and Service Tax (SST) is implemented in September.
"I want to inform the House that prices had stabilised without the abolition of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
"I assure you that there will be another round of price hikes when the Sales and Service Tax (SST) is implemented on Sept 1," he added.
Although Najib had earlier invoked Standing Order 37 to prevent interruptions from the floor during his debate, R.S.N. Rayer (PH-Jelutong) stood up to demand an explanation over the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, amid heckles and jeers from other lawmakers.
Speaker Datuk Mohamad Arif Md Yusof reminded Rayer that he had to abide by House rules.
Najib said under Barisan Nasional, Felda settlers enjoyed benefits, including windfalls and bonuses, but that is not the case now under the Pakatan Harapan government.
"But after the new government took over, settlers were given less Hari Raya bonus, there were late payments and promises were not kept," he said.
"In their manifesto, they said they will cancel debts of Felda within 100 days but this has yet to be implemented," he said.
He also rubbished allegations that he planned to declare a state of emergency on May 9, the night which he and his Barisan Nasional party had lost the GE14 to the Pakatan Harapan.
He said that he has always been a staunch believer in the principles of democracy and the rule of law and has conformed to those two values.
"The shift of power after the election was peaceful, these rumours about me calling for a state of emergency are unfounded," he said.
"What I was accused of was utterly baseless altogether. If one referred to the Malaysian Armed Forces at that time, the police at the time, there was no special National Security Council (NSC) call made at that time," Najib said.