It is PR in turmoil, not BN

Najib Razak sweeps aside his plummeting support and says BN’s by-election wins a good sign.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Razak has remained defiant in the face of his dwindling support, saying that Barisan Nasional’s victory in the last two by-elections was proof enough that support was returning to its shores.

He said, “In terms of politics, our success in the by-elections, we hope such successes will enable us to prepare more for the challenges in the coming general election.”

He was referring to BN’s victory in the Teluk Intan and Pengkalan Kubor by-elections.

Najib said in order to keep this upward momentum, BN component parties had to strengthen their positions and refrain from falling into chaos like the opposition’s Pakatan Rakyat.

Drawing attention to the long, drawn-out scramble for the menteri bear post in Selangor that saw PR partners turn on each other, Najib said, “We can improve on our cooperation – we look at the opposition and they are more in turmoil than BN.”

Taking on a motivational tone, the PM urged, “We need to look internally, strengthen each party and show the commitment to ensure BN’s continued success,” he said.

He also sounded confident saying if BN parties showed positive leadership, the coalition’s supporters would appreciate what they were doing.

Najib said this despite his dwindling support if survey results by the Merdeka Centre was anything to go by.

His approval ratings took a hit after widespread dissatisfaction over fuel subsidy cuts and plummeted to 48% from 54%, a popularity high after he successfully brokered a deal to retrieve black boxes and bring home victims of the MH17 tragedy.