‘JACK MA HAS RUN OFF INTO THE NIGHT – HE SAID THE MALAYSIAN GOVT CANNOT BE TRUSTED’ – ‘INNOCENT’ NAJIB TELLS RANTAU FOLK THEY WOULD BE ‘STUPID’ NOT TO VOTE FOR MAT HASAN: AS HIS CRIMINAL TRIAL BEGINS, NAJIB DRAGS IN ALIBABA’S ICONIC CHIEF TO CLEAN HIS NAME WITH VOTERS – INSISTS MANY NOW REALIZE HIS CHARGES ARE ‘ALL LIES’

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak pointed to the cash reserves of Petronas in firing back at critics who call him a thief.

“If I am a thief, what kind of thief leaves RM174 billion in Petronas’ cash reserves?” he said at a Rantau by-election ceramah in Sendayan, Negeri Sembilan, last night.

Najib is currently facing 42 criminal charges that include money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust.

His trial on seven charges related to SRC International began at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

Najib did not speak about this trial at the ceramah last night, which was attended by some 250 people.

His talk, part of BN’s campaign for the Rantau by-election, focused on criticising the Pakatan Harapan government, including for taking RM82 billion from Petronas.

Petronas will fork out RM30 billion in special dividends in 2019, in addition to the annual dividend paid to the government. This sum is to ease the government’s burden of repaying RM37 billion in GST refunds.

Najib said last year that he only took “RM17 billion” in dividends (actually RM19 billion) from Petronas.

He said this was done because he wanted the national oil film to invest its money in finding new oil wells.

‘Jack Ma has lost his confidence in Malaysia’

Najib also claimed that Alibaba boss Jack Ma has lost his confidence in Malaysia.

“Jack Ma has run off into the night… he said the Malaysian government can’t be trusted,” Najib said.

This appeared to be based on a posting by fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, who claimed Ma was unhappy that the Harapan government did not keep its promises.

Raja Petra retracted the article after Alibaba sent him a legal letter accusing him of lying and defaming Ma.

On the Rantau by-election, Najib said the people should vote for BN’s Mohamad Hasan instead of PKR’s Dr S Streram.

“Steram is just a doctor who puts people to sleep, so everyone will fall asleep,” he said.

He said the voters would be “stupid” not to vote for Mohamad.

Najib then quickly apologised for saying this, explaining that he only meant it as a “figure of speech”, that people should not reject a good leader like the acting Umno president.

Mohamad was not present at Najib’s ceramah.

However, the two met and performed isya’ (night) prayers at a surau in Sendayan earlier (photo, above), before the ceramah. – MKINI

Najib suggests ‘apology room’ for those seeking his forgiveness

NAJIB Razak said Malaysians now realise that Pakatan Harapan’s allegations against him are nothing but slander, a day after his SRC International Sdn Bhd trial began.

The former prime minister said this is apparent based on the warm reception he gets at meet-the-people events, adding that many have apologised for having condemned him over the claims.

“Many people have apologised to me. Earlier, when I was leaving the surau, someone whispered to me, ‘I’m sorry for having insulted you. Now I know the allegations aren’t true’. I forgave the person.

“I suggest we set up an ‘apology room’ for those who want to apologise to me,” he said sarcastically at a “Santai bersama Bossku” (Relax with Bossku) programme in Bandar Sri Sendayan, Negri Sembilan, last night.

Najib said had he gotten such good reception before, Barisan Nasional would not have lost the 14th general election.

“It puzzles me that I’m more popular now than when I was prime minister. BN wouldn’t have lost the elections if I were as popular then. Where we went wrong, I don’t know.  

“We were slandered, and (PH) made false promises. However, I’m not saying we don’t have our weaknesses.”

The PH government is hypocritical as it lies to the people and does not keep its word, he said.

Najib’s presence at last night’s event was his first on the campaign trail for the Rantau by-election, stumping for BN candidate Mohamad Hasan.

Mohamad earlier this week said he had invited Najib to Sendayan as the former prime minister was responsible for the area’s development, as well as the relocation of an air force base.

“Without the help of the previous government, and specifically, Najib, Sendayan would not have seen development.”

Najib faces three counts of criminal breach of trust, three counts of money laundering and one count of power abuse in relation to RM42 million belonging to SRC International, a former unit of 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

He faces up to 20 years’ jail and a fine upon conviction.

The trial for the seven charges – out of a total of 42 Najib has been slapped with – will continue from April 15 to May 10. – the malaysian insight

MKINI/THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT