“I will not take the people’s property, don’t think I am a crook, don’t think I steal the people’s property, I am the prime minister for the people,” he said today at a solidarity rally at the air base here.
He vowed to continue the struggle to defend the people’s welfare, and denied that he was a thief of the citizen’s property as portrayed by those who wanted to tarnish his image.
“You already know me. I am not like what is said by the people over there. I am not like that. I have looked after Pahang in the best possible manner,” said Najib, who is MP for Pekan and a former menteri besar of his home state.
“If I had wanted to rob, I would have robbed the forest here long ago. I didn’t even take an inch, I didn’t take a single tree in Pahang, I didn’t take the bauxite mine, I didn’t take anything.
“I have not changed my stand when I became prime minister,” he said.
The solidarity gathering was attended by more than 5,000 members and leaders of Umno and Barisan Nasional from 14 divisions in the state.
Najib, who is Umno president urged the people, especially party members, to ignore the political cooperation between former Umno leaders and members of the opposition.
He said it was not beneficial compared to the government which had done much good for the people all along. “We work, we take care of the economy, we want the young to have jobs, expand the economy, we want to take care of villagers, we want to develop the urban areas, suburban areas, the beach and mountain fringes, all of these we have to take care,” he said.
He condemned the actions of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who has launched the Citizens’ Declaration with the opposition to topple the government under his leadership.
He said such acts went against the principles held by Dr Mahathir. “For 22 years he had criticised the DAP… (he) said Kit Siang (Lim Kit Siang) was racist…he said the DAP was a chauvinistic party, denying the rights of the Malays, oppressed Islam, we have heard his speeches.
“I am not saying this, it was Dr Mahathir himself who said this for 22 years…today he (Dr Mahathir) sits beside whom, he signed the people’s declaration with whom,” Najib asked.
He added that it was not proper that Dr Mahathir, several former Umno leaders and the opposition intended to topple the government by holding street demonstrations and rallies. “Previously, (Dr Mahathir) said street demonstrations were wrong in terms of the law. Previously (he) said it was illegal in terms of democratic principles. But now, it is something else,” he said.
Najib thanked those who attended the rally today and said he was elated to know that he was not alone in facing the ordeal. “As a Pahang-born, my heart is soothed today. Despite being attacked from a myriad of directions, if my soldiers are like what they are today, I am not alone,” he said.
– BERNAMA