“If PH had drawn up its election manifesto to reflect the real situation today — for instance, the price of fuel will be floated, tolls will remain and higher education loans must be paid back — would PH have won?
“I don’t think PH would have gotten the support it got,” he said in a live interview with Sinar Harian.
Najib said PH went ahead and made the promises, knowing full well they would not be able to fulfil them.
“People think integrity is just about corruption. But it is also about moral integrity — what we promise to the people and what happens when we break those promises.”
To a question by Karangkraf Group editorial executive adviser Abdul Jalil Ali on whether he had expected BN to lose badly in GE14 with such a well drawn-up manifesto, Najib said “no”.
“We told the people that abolishing tolls will cost us RM400 billion.
“We said it was not possible to reduce the price of fuel from RM2.20 to RM1.50 as it will see subsidies increasing from RM600 million to RM2 billion monthly.
“We explained these could not be done. But the rakyat were swayed by (PH’s) sweet promises,” Najib said.
On whether there was a chance for Umno to be restored to its former glory, with many leaders already ditching the party and others being charged in court, Najib said those in Umno must be confident there is a future for the party.
“We must all be united, love Umno and be committed to Umno. There must be a clear course for the party.
“With the courage to struggle on as the opposition, there is hope to return to Umno’s glory days,” he said.
The Pekan MP said those who had already turned their backs on Umno should be left behind and the party rebuilt with the leaders remaining behind and with new talent.
On whether he would continue to be active in politics after his court cases had been resolved, Najib said he was unsure about that but would help Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and other party leaders to strengthen the party.
“Nobody needs to worry about what I do. I am no threat to anyone.
“I will help to strengthen Umno. But I cannot do this alone. I need to rely on my friends and we must do this collectively.”
On how he had maintained his composure despite the 38 charges he is facing in court, involving millions of ringgit, Najib said he was able to remain calm because he believed he is innocent.
“God willing, I will prove it all in court when the time comes. My lawyers are confident that they can help clear my name.
“I don’t wish to elaborate on the 38 charges. I feel some of them are unreasonable but it is okay. It is the right of the government to draw up these charges.
“I only ask that the courts be fair to me. As a Malaysian, I deserve to be given a fair trial in court. This is important because if we talk about the rule of law, one of the crucial pillars is a fair judiciary.
“I am innocent until proven guilty. We do not want it to descend into a court of public opinion.
“There is a tendency this might happen with all sorts of accusations.”