Utusan slams ‘crowing rooster’ Guan Eng, more lenient with Dr M

The Malay daily in a stinging attack on the finance minister says he should stop criticising former prime minister Najib Razak.

PETALING JAYA: Umno-linked Utusan Malaysia has launched its strongest attack on DAP since the May 9 polls, but is taking a more guarded approach with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, even supporting recent statements by the prime minister.

In its weekly round-up of news, the paper hit out at Lim Guan Eng over his criticism of former prime minister Najib Razak, saying his appointment as finance minister despite involvement in a graft case was questionable.

It added that Lim’s appointment to the Cabinet was a first in the world.

“There has never been an instance anywhere in the world that an individual facing graft charges is appointed as a minister except in Malaysia,” the paper said in its weekend edition.

Referring to Lim’s trial over two corruption charges brought by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) involving a bungalow he had bought at below-market price, Utusan said Lim had no right to continue lambasting Najib over revelations by police that cash and jewellery seized from his family was worth over RM1 billion.

Using a Malay proverb, Utusan said Lim’s constant criticism was like a rooster that crows “while its tail gets muddied with faeces”.

Lim recently described the outcome of police raids on properties linked to Najib as “shocking”, and said in an Associated Press interview that the government was planning to sell off the stash of jewellery and luxury items.

Since taking up the finance portfolio, the DAP secretary-general has also attacked his predecessor’s financial policies, saying they caused a national debt amounting to RM1 trillion.

But Utusan said Lim’s own corruption case, which is currently pending a review by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, raised questions on his integrity.

“Be ashamed of yourself,” it added.

The paper’s condemnation of Lim was in stark contrast with its support for several statements by Mahathir, including the prime minister’s announcement that the present government would carry on with the Malay economic empowerment agenda.

It also welcomed Mahathir’s statement that Malaysia should review its water agreement with Singapore.

“Indeed, the selling rate of 3 sen for every 1,000 gallons of raw water to Singapore does not make sense. It’s time the agreement is reviewed to make it more realistic and fair in the interest of Malaysia,” it said. -FMT