5,000 foreigners to ensure BN victory at marginal seats, says Dr M

He repeats his attack on Najib, saying the Umno president will stop at nothing to remain in power

PETALING JAYA: Dr Mahathir Mohamad has spoken of a grand plan by the Najib Razak administration to issue identity cards to some 5,000 foreigners in order to ensure Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory at the next general election.

“This is the frightening story I heard, that there is an attempt to issue ICs to foreigners to support Najib in the next general election,” he said at a gathering in Kampung Krubong Tengah, Melaka on Saturday.

The event, also attended by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) president Muhyiddin Yassin, was posted in the Facebook of Kelab Che Det.

Dr Mahathir, the PPBM chairman, said the 5,000 voters would be distributed to seats the BN considered as marginal.

“These seats could be won by a majority of a few hundred votes but the 5,000 votes will give victory to Najib,” he said, adding that Najib would do anything to remain in power following the 1MDB scandal.

Similar allegations were raised during the 2013 general election, when it was claimed that thousands of foreigners were made instant citizens to allow them to vote.

The former prime minister also expressed concern over foreign enclaves in Iskandar, Johor following reports of China-based developers eyeing foreigners especially Singaporeans to buy properties in the southern state.

“About 700,000 homes, ranging between RM1 million and RM5 million will be built in Forest City, Johor that will likely be snapped up by foreigners.

Locals cannot afford to buy this properties,” he said.

Bloomberg recently reported that Chinese companies are now focusing on Johor to build giant residential complexes.

“These Chinese players build by the thousands at one go, and they scare the hell out of everybody,” Bloomberg quoted Siva Shanker, former president of the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents.

“God only knows who is going to buy all these units, and when it’s completed, the bigger question is, who is going to stay in them?” -FMT