‘YES YOU GET A PINK DIAMOND, HERMES HANDBAGS & A PERSON HAVING A HAIRDO LIKE THE BACK OF A RICE COOKER’: MAHATHIR RIPS INTO NAJIB OVER 1MDB SPENDING

Pakatan Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad has questioned why pictures of him are not allowed to be used, the ones used are cut out or blacked out, but caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s pictures of “seeking donations” are allowed.

Mahathir asked whether the images or photographs of him were creating fear to Umno and BN resulting in them to use the Election Commission to remove the pictures.

“Why fear photographs or such images but pictures of Najib like this (gesturing and spreading his hands wide) as if seeking donations are allowed,” he asked to the laughter of a crowd of some 4,000 people at a muddy field in Putrajaya, beside the Sultan Al Mizan mosque last night.

Also present were his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, Parti Amanah Negara candidate for Chempaka Nik Omar Nik Abdul Aziz, and DAP’s incumbent Seremban MP Anthony Loke.

It has been reported that images of Mahathir in campaign material nationwide, including billboards, were pulled down or cut out by the authorities.

Upping the ante, Mahathir raised questions on Najib’s RM2.6 billion donation, allegedly from a Saudi prince, that was put into his private bank account.

“Who is the crazy Arab wanting to donate such a huge amount? Even the richest man in the world, Bill Gates, would not contribute such a huge amount,” he said.

“Najib claims he gets it because he is a person fighting for the religion. Podah (go away).”

Using the words of Parti Amanah Negara president Mohamad Sabu, Mahathir said previously Mat Sabu questioned the costs of the various projects, such as the North-South Highway, Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang bridge and others.

“Yes they cost a lot but the results are there. We see 1MDB taking funds and RM42 billion were gained. However, what did the people get in return for this expenditure?

“Yes, you get a pink diamond and the Hermes handbags, and a person having a hairdo like the back of a rice cooker,” he said.

Mahathir said now the country now owed billions of ringgit but what do the people get? We have only seen a multimillion-dollar yacht seized by the Indonesian authorities and other properties overseas, in London and United States.

This is Najib, he said. The people do not see the fruition of his works, but only the extension of the MRT, which one does not require much thinking to implement.

Therefore, the former prime minister said, the people and voters should vote for Pakatan Harapan for a change.

Harapan, he said, would try to resolve the problems plaguing the country and as stated in its manifesto, if elected, the various senior posts in government would be appointed via the Parliament.