Anwar, Muhyiddin trade barbs in JB

They lob insults as they speak at functions held 3km apart

BARU: As the campaigning period for 13th general election entered the fifth day, two top leaders from BN and Pakatan Rakyat today embarked on a whirlwind trip to Johor Baru to vie for support from voters.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim and BN number two Muhyiddin Yassin were engaged in almost close combat for support, with their separate functions held just 3km apart from each other.

At Anwar’s ceremah, the 500 crowd erupted into thunderous applause when he said he would slash the oil price on May 7 should Pakatan Rakyat win power in the polls.

“God willing, on May 5 we win the polls, May 6 we are sworn in, May 7 we will reduce the oil price,” he told the energetic crowd in Bandar Baru Uda.

Taking potshots at Muhyiddin, Anwar told the crowd that Muhyiddin had no standing to accuse him of ineptness in economic issues because Muhyiddin had never been a finance minister.

“What’s his fuss with me? He has never been a finance minister. Najib was the finance minister for four years, and he raised the national debt to RM540 billion.

“When I was the finance minister for eight years, there was no increase in the country’s debts,” he said.

Later, when speaking to reporters, Anwar said he was confident that Pakatan would win the 13th GE with a simple majority.

“I’m not very good at the numbers game. But I’m confident of the people’s support. Last night I was in Melaka. The response there was unbelievable,” he said.

Asked what he would do if Pakatan were to lose the election, he said he would probably retire from frontline politics and return to teaching.

“I will continue to help, but it would  be time to take the back seat,” he added.

‘Expelled members won’t affect Umno’

Earlier, at Muhyiddin’s function in Kempas, the deputy prime minister received the loudest response from the crowd when he led the crowd in chanting “1 Malaysia!”.

Muhyiddin was there to launch 426 units of affordable houses for the poor.

In his speech, he asked his audience to reject “the opposition leader”.

“He can come to Johor, but people here are not going to receive him well, because Johoreans have been living in harmony. The Chinese, Malay and Indian are like brothers.

“The unity among us is strong. Let us not be influenced by foreign elements,” said Muhyiddin.

Later, when asked to comment on the ground response towards BN, Muhyiddin said it was good thus far.

He also dismissed the notion that the 61 expelled Umno members would affect BN’s chances, saying that he believed followers of the expelled members would stay put with Umno.

He also questioned PAS’ ability to form an Islamic state should Pakatan win power, pointing out that the Islamist party was contesting only about 70 of the 222 parliamentary seats.

PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz repeated today that PAS was ready to form an Islamic state should Pakatan take over Putrajaya.