Defiant Najib vows not to back down

Mahathir is reminded of his own defiance in 1987, refusing to go even if winning only by one vote

TAWAU: Najib Razak said tonight he would not bow to pressure and quit as Prime Minister or Umno president as long as there was support from the people and party members.

“I will only bow to the people and party members. As long as the people and members of Umno support me and have trust in my leadership, I will continue to carry on,” he said at a rally attended by an estimated 40,000 crowd.

It was the first time he had openly come out with such a strong-worded statement since coming under heavy criticism and demands by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that he resign

Najib said his mandate as Prime Minister and Umno president came from the people through a democratic process, from Padang Besar in Perlis to Pulau Sebatik in Tawau, Sabah.

He was met with cheers and applause when he called for a show of support from the people.

Reiterating his stand to remain steadfast, Najib recited a Bugis saying ‘Kendati tergantung awan di langit. Telah terlanjur kubentang layar. Walau badai datang menggunung. Walau berdentum guruh di langit, walau bumi berkeping dua, tak kan mungkin ku berbalik haluan’. It simply meant he would continue to weather the storm and not retreat from the battle.

He said every leader, including himself, would face severe tests during their tenure as leaders. Dr Mahathir was no exception. He had gone through even more tests during his 22 years as Prime Minister.

“Who said there were no tests? During the Team A and Team B test (Dr Mahathir) nearly lost. Almost 50 per cent of the Umno members called him to step down. But what was his answer? “Even if I win by a single vote, I will continue to be the Prime Minister. Oh! That was a great answer.

“In 1987, I was among those who supported him. Why he (Dr Mahathir) remained as Prime Minister? Because we were united in difficult times. When in difficult times we support him to remain in power. If we did not support the leader during trying times, Dr Mahathir would not have been the Prime Minister for 22 years,” said Najib to a loud reception from the crowd.

“Therefore, do not forget the past, when he (Dr Mahathir) was the Prime Minister, we fully supported him. Now he is not the Prime Minister, so return the support. Even if cannot support, don’t make too much noise and disrupt the party. We can clarify the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue,” he said.

He said Dr Mahathir had made misleading and contradictory statements about troubled government company 1Malaysia Development Bhd. “At one time he says 1MDB lost RM42 billion and then says 1MDB did not lose but owes RM42 billion.”

Najib said the government has its own way of solving the issue, given time.

He said the Tabung Haji purchase of a plot of land from 1MDB was an investment and not a bailout; Tabung Haji could make a profit of RM170 million but as the purchase had become an issue, he (Najib) had advised the fund to sell the land instead.

Tabung Haji could earn about RM5 million to RM6 million although the profit would have been RM170 million if the asset had been retained, thus it was indeed a loss of earnings foregone for depositors in the pilgrimage fund.

“Since the facts of the purchase has been twisted and became a hot topic, you can say it was like ‘shooting oneself in the foot’. This is what I call ‘not rational’ because why are we doing this?, for the benefit of the people, so, give us a chance to do it. Every issue can be solved but let the leaders solve such issues,” he said.

Najib said the support he had received made him more determined to face the challenges.

The prime minister was accompanied at the rally by his wife Rosmah Mansor, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman, deputy chief ministers Yahya Hussin and Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Kalabakan MP Abdul Ghapur Salleh and Sabah youth minister Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan.

– BERNAMA