Dr M hits out at BR1M again, says Najib still thinks ‘cash is king’

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says the Malays need to wake up, warning they can no longer rely on a crutch forever to succeed. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Nazir Sufari, December 20, 2014.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has again criticised Putrajaya’s 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) cash handout to help the people cope with the rising cost of living, saying he had advised Datuk Seri Najib Razak against it but was ignored.

"Instead of giving cash, we should provide the people with training and skills. I have told this to Najib but he still thinks cash is king and that it can gain support," the former prime minister said in reply to questions from participants at a youth leadership convention in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was asked why the Malays remained weak despite government aid and initiatives to improve their lot.

Earlier, Dr Mahathir said under the New Economic Policy, Malays were given 20 years to achieve a 30% share of the economy but the policy had failed.

"The period was extended but we still could not reach the target. We achieved some 10% to 20% only."

He said the Malays now had to wake up, warning that the “tongkat” (crutch) could not be there forever.

"After a certain period we have to remove the tongkat. But some people think it is their right to have the tongkat, which is not right at all.”

Dr Mahathir has been vocal lately in criticising Najib. Among the issues he has raised was the controversial sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad, criticising Putrajaya for mismanaging its finances. 

He had asked Putrajaya to explain how 1MDB benefitted Malaysians, as it incurred a RM38 billion debt within just five years of its operations.

Dr Mahathir had also hit out at Najib and other Umno leaders for failing to address the controversies surrounding 1MDB at last month's Umno general assembly.

1MDB, which is Najib's brainchild, has come under much scrutiny after several opposition leaders highlighted its massive debts, dubious land deals and secrecy over its transactions. 

Dismissing talks that he was behind Batu Kawan Umno division leader Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan’s lodging a police report against 1MDB as well as the open letter by another grassroots leader who demanded that Najib step down, Dr Mahathir said today that people liked to blame him for everything.

"People tend to blame me for all, including the good things. So for the good ones, I accept the blame, but the bad ones, I deny it," he said in jest.

He, however, said the disgruntled voices in the party about the leadership and other grouses had been there for a long time, adding it was only now they spoke out after seeing him being vocal about many issues pertaining to Umno and Putrajaya.

"Benda dah lama (it has been a long time) but maybe they did not dare to voice it out before. Now after watching me, they becoming brave enough to do it."

On December 12, Khairuddin lodged a report at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, said he was "suspicious" and doubted the financial management of 1MDB, which he noted was not transparent.

Calling for a “detailed and comprehensive” investigation, Khairuddin urged the authorities to interrogate 1MDB’s directors, and representatives of any company that might be implicated. 

Meanwhile, Syed Rosli Jamalullail, the information chief of the Umno Pusat Bandar Taman Chempaka branch, in his open letter to Najib, urged him to step down.

Syed Rosli said the party had become weak and was losing not only Malay support but also voters of Barisan Nasional's component parties, especially from the Chinese and Indians.

He said if Najib truly loved Umno and BN, he would help the party to become strong again by leaving.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin in a Malaysiakini report on December 18 slammed Syed Rosli for criticising Najib, and described him as the "lowest of the low" in the party hierarchy.

He said he could not understand why news portals had highlighted Syed Rosli's open letter, adding that the Umno man had no party position.

Dr Mahathir said today it did not matter if a person held a low or high position as what was important was that the people have spoken.

"I have been listening to many. Those out there, they were not happy with the leadership today.”

- TMI