Najib: BN won but lost perception war

Najib Abdul Razak has urged Malaysian students abroad to think rationally and not swallow hook-line-and-sinker all of the opposition’s “slander and lies”.

JAKARTA: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak reminded Malaysian students in foreign countries not to fall for opposition lies to the extent of not supporting the government.

He said the slander and lies spread by the opposition on the recent 13th general election (GE13) process, for instance, had created a wrong perception of the government to the extent that some students also believed the slander and lies.

“Until today, there is no proof of the opposition’s claim that we (Barisan Nasional) had brought in 40,000 Bangladeshis (to vote for BN).

“This was slander and a very big lie in the general election this time.

“That’s why I ask, are people not able to think (that it’s illogical)? It has turned out that some people cannot think wisely, even lawyers can’t,” said Najib, who questioned the people’s level of intelligence and rationality over such issues.

He was speaking at a luncheon with Malaysian students in Indonesia at the Malaysian embassy in Kuningan, here today.

Also present was his wife Rosmah Mansor and Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin Syed Hassan and his spouse Sharifah Ikhlas Syed Ismail.

Najib is here on a personal visit to meet up with a number of Indonesian leaders who are close to him, and for a rest after the GE13.

He urged the Malaysian students to think rationally whether it was possible for BN to bring in 40,000 Bangladeshis to vote for the ruling coalition as claimed, because it would require 100 jumbo planes to fly them to Malaysia and 1,000 buses to bring them to the polling stations.

He said the opposition’s claim was absurd as it would also be difficult for BN to hide Bangladesh nationals in Malaysia as their appearance was different from most Malaysians.

“I, as the BN chairman, strongly refute that there was cheating by BN (in the GE13) as alleged.

“The general election was conducted in a fair manner and in accordance with the law and regulations,” he said.

BN ‘lost in war of perception’

Najib said BN had carried out a lot transformation in terms of delivery over the last four years and had validly won the GE13.

But despite its victory, BN he said, had  “lost in the war of perception” because of the slander and lies churned out by the opposition through the alternative media, which many people believed in more than the truth provided by the mainstream media.

“For the next general election, BN must equip itself well to fight in the war of perception.

“In reality, we have delivered, as Malaysia is increasingly prosperous and a good example for many countries, but perceived otherwise by some quarters.

“The war of perception is thus the biggest challenge for BN,” he said.