Najib throws ‘flying chairs’ jibe at Mahathir in sit-down luncheon

The Umno president says there can be no U-turns in politics or 'chairs will fly'

PERMATANG PAUH: An Umno event today to enter into the Malaysia Book of Records for the largest dining event without chairs saw the prime minister taking a jibe at the recent PPBM forum when chairs and other objects were thrown forcing organisers to call off the programme.

“You see, when you make a lot of U-turns, corner baring (skirting), 360-degree turns, chairs fly. Luckily there are no chairs here today,” said Najib Razak in what appears to be a reference to Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s admission that he had made a political “U-turn” for good.

A total of 21,380 people attended today’s “Jom Makan Bersila Bersama PM” event organised by Permatang Pauh Umno, with food served by restaurant chain Pelita.

Najib said the incident last Sunday at the “Nothing to Hide” forum would not have taken place if people did not make U-turns.

“My late father said, we must have sincerity in politics. You cannot say something today but do something else the next day.

“You make a stand now, but 18 years later you make a U-turn. I want to ask all of you, who made this U-turn? I do not want to mention names, but I am sure you know who,” he said.

Najib also took other opposition leaders to task, and said that in the past, the “reformists” had wanted to fight “the dictator”

“Reformasi was formed to fight a dictator, Mahafiraun, Mahazalim, but today he has become their chairman,” he said, referring to the opposition’s monikers on Dr Mahathir in the late 1990s.

Najib said Permatang Pauh, the parliamentary seat held by Anwar Ibrahim for three decades and now by his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, had an MP who “did not know her job”.

“Have you seen her lately? We want a wakil rakyat that can help us, so we can improve our lives.

“But if Permatang Pauh stood still in time, with absolutely no change, what is the use? Who is at a loss then? People of Permatang Pauh are at a loss.

“Hangpa sudah rugi,” Najib said in the northern Malay dialect.

He said the people of Permatang Pauh still sought Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders in Permatang Pauh because they knew they can deliver.

“Although the people here did not choose BN, I want to say one thing, I am very proud to say Umno and BN never severed ties with you. In fact they served you, through thick and thin.

“I have approved allocations for Permatang Pauh when asked by the Umno chairman here Zaidi Said.”

“I am willing to sit down with you. I don’t have back pains, knee pains. Anyone who wants to fight me, bring it on. I will fight you. Lawan tetap lawan.” - FMT