Stop crying wolf: Anwar tells Najib

Malaysia's economy is strong enough to absorb any shock from a regime change, insists the opposition leader.

PETALING JAYA: Anwar Ibrahim has lashed out at caretaker prime minister Najib Tun Razak for using his position to “strike fear” among the business community over the prospect of Pakatan Rakyat capturing federal power in the general election.

“The warning in a recent Bloomberg interview of ‘a sharp plunge in Malaysian stocks and the ringgit’ and ‘a catastrophic ruin for the country’ in the event of a Pakatan victory is but a desperate and irresponsible act to paint Pakatan in a bad light,” said the PKR de facto leader in a statement today.

Anwar stressed that the change Pakatan would bring should it take over the government was crucial towards raising the country’s long-term global competitiveness and increasing Malaysia’s economic growth beyond 6%.

He said contrary to Najib’s doomsday claims, Malaysia’s economy was able to absorb any short-term economic or financial shocks that might arise from a change of government.

“A new federal government under PKR and its coalition partners will ensure a smooth transition process with minimal disruptions, allay concerns over any forms of uncertainty and instability, and restore confidence among the public at large, investors and other stakeholders.

“The new federal government will ensure policy clarity and consistency, and specify the priority of policy initiatives for the short, medium and long terms,” he added.

Anwar said a Pakatan-led government would strike a balance between making Malaysia a competitive nation for businesses to thrive, and to defend the rights and interests of the poor and underprivileged.

“Weeding out endemic corruption, crony capitalism and rent-seeking practices; lifting restrictions to civil liberties and eradicating all forms of abuse will be among the major policy objectives to attain the immediate to medium term,” he added.

He urged Najib to “stop acting like the proverbial boy who cries wolf” and start acting the part of a leader of a coalition.

“It is most unbecoming of Najib to use his position as caretaker prime minister to make such rash statements calculated to spook the public and agitate the market.

“The outcome will be determined by the people whom we believe must be given all means to make a rational and informed choice,” he added.

Anwar said the “increasingly louder calls for change” would take place via the ballot box, in accordance with the practice of constitutional democracy.

“Najib’s attempt to link such a process with the Arab Spring or revolutionary overthrow of governments is completely misconceived and smacks of bad faith and mischief to mislead the people,” he added.

In his interview with Bloomburg yesterday, Najib had said that change, if not managed properly, could lead to a disastrous outcome.

“Countries that have been going through Arab Spring, now many people are saying it’s Arab Winter, because the dividends for the change they expected have been very disappointing,” he had said.

But he told Bloomberg he would abide by a loss should Pakatan win elections, as he was a strong believer in the democratic process