Do you want to endorse Najib's leadership, Sarawak voters asked

S'WAK POLLS Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is blazing through the campaign trail in Sarawak for his personal political survival as well, according to Lim Kit Siang.

He said the prime minister intends to use the results of the state election as a barometer of his popularity.

The veteran DAP leader noted how none of Najib’s predecessors had campaigned as intensively as the latter in the Sarawak elections.

Apart from being the first prime minister to be present on nomination day, Lim said Najib is campaigning as hard as chief minister Adenan Satem.

"Why? The answer is simple," he added in a media statement.

Apart from using it to gauge his standing, Lim said the results could also be used to counter the calls for Najib to step down amid the allegations surrounding 1MDB and the political donation issue.

Therefore, he said the voters of Sarawak should be aware of this.

"(They must) decide whether they want their vote on May 7 to be used by Najib as a vote for endorsement and confidence of his premiership of Malaysia," he added in a media statement.

The prime minister has repeatedly denied abusing public funds for personal gain, and blamed such allegations on those conspiring to topple him from power.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has also cleared him of any wrongdoing, but critics continue to cast aspersions.

1MDB, which is the brainchild of the prime minister, is now the subject of various international investigations.

Meanwhile, Lim also reiterated that Adenan would remain as chief minister after the election and stressed on the need for a strong opposition to keep the state government in check.

"DAP fully supports Sarawak state autonomy but we cannot agree with any abuse of power, and there can be no doubt that barring DAP and PKR leaders from coming to Sarawak during the state election to carry out "legitimate political activities", which is guaranteed in the Malaysian Constitution and the Immigration Act, is an abuse of power.

"This should be a salutary reminder of the need to have a strong and effective opposition in the state assembly to provide the necessary checks-and-balance against abuses of power.

"The ideal situation is to deny Adenan two-thirds majority in the state assembly, which will require a total of 28 out of a total of 82 seats. This will not easy to realise but it may be achievable if the DAP wins 20 to 22 seats and PKR wins from six to eight seats," he said. -Mkini