JOHOR POLLS | Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng is questioning if the appearance of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak at a food court in Perling, Johor was really indicative of a groundswell of support for the Pekan MP.
In a statement today, Lim noted that video footage showed that Najib was greeted warmly by the predominantly Chinese patronage, with fistbumps, selfies and shouts of “bossku”, giving the impression that Najib was now popular with the Chinese community, which had overwhelmingly rejected his coalition in the last general election.
“In my opinion, the reaction shown by the Chinese patrons on that day is not at all surprising. If anything, it was an entirely human response.
“25 years after (American footballer/actor) OJ Simpson was found liable by a US civil court jury for the killings of his former wife and her friend, he remains a ‘celebrity’ to many.
“People flock to him for selfies and autographs, and journalists still keep up with Simpson’s everyday life, yet it is undeniable that Simpson had been found liable for wrongful death in the double murder,” said Lim.
Simpson was not convicted on criminal charges but found liable in a civil suit for the killings. He later served nine years in jail from 2008 to 2017 on unrelated charges.
‘Not necessarily expressing support’
Lim said that whether Najib's hearty welcome will translate into votes at the Johor polls on March 12 remains to be seen.
“When the people in that food court flocked to Najib for pictures, they were not necessarily expressing political support.
“What the people saw was a disgraced politician who was once so unreachable, now suddenly too accessible.
“They took pictures not to boast about who they were voting for, but to show their grandchildren that an ex-prime minister once walked into a food court in Johor where he was used as a mere photo-op,” he claimed.
Najib was there in support of MCA/BN Perling candidate Nicole Tan Hiang Kee, who is contesting against Perikatan Nasional's Khoo Siaw Lee and Pakatan Harapan's Liew Chin Tong.
The incumbent in Perling is DAP's Cheo Yee How, who has been dropped. In the 2018 general election, he won with a 19,533-vote majority.
BN received very little support from the Chinese community in that election but is counting on a swing.
Tan, who was later asked if she was worried Najib was outshining her, replied: “It doesn't matter as we share the limelight.”
“After all, we are from the same political coalition. I feel honoured that he is willing to help me in this election,” she said.
Najib himself claimed that the support of the Chinese community (for BN) has grown and expressed the wish that it be translated into support on March 12,
Najib is appealing his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine over the misappropriation of RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1MDB subsidiary. - Mkini
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