No reason to support Anwar, says Najib

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said today there was no reason for the people to support PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim when his comrades themselves have deserted him.

He said the people should make their own evaluation because those who had distanced themselves from Anwar were people in the likes of Chandra Muzaffar, Sidek Baba and senator Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor, who had been close to him.

Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said this only showed that Anwar did not have strong and effective support from people around him.

"The leaders who have quit PKR are those who have been close to Anwar. I find this a little weird. I can understand if they are people not so close to him.

"As voters, we must ask ourselves. If such a leader has been rejected by those around him, why must we support (him)," he said at the ground breaking for the Raub campus of Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Pahang.

The caretaker prime minister said many individuals close to Anwar at one time had stated that they lost faith in him because he had no credibility as a leader.

In fact, he said, Chandra had issued a statement claiming that if Anwar was appointed the prime minister, there would be chaos.

"I am not saying this. I am just quoting (from reports) and conveying it to the people here. Choose a leader with credibility to helm the country," he said.

Najib said the people should elect BN candidates in the general election tomorrow because only the coalition's leaders were capable of administering Malaysia.

The BN chairperson again called on the people to give the coalition a fresh mandate to enable it to continue with its national transformation agenda with greater intensity.

"This is the first time, as the prime minister, that I am seeking a mandate from the people. I want to carry on with the trust ... the task of transformation is not over yet," he said.

He said he was convinced that the 55-year experience of administering the country enabled the BN government to draw up plans to take Malaysia to greater heights, and to be well-liked and well-respected internationally.

The prime minister gave the assurance that over the next five years, Malaysia would be in a better position compared to the last four years, including in terms of peace, stability and progress.

Najib assured all the communities that their welfare would be well taken care of, including in terms of education, if the BN was given a fresh mandate to administer the country.

He reminded the Malays not to be overly concerned about voting for non-Malay candidates of the BN component parties.