Opposition Cannot Be Selective, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today hit out at the opposition over its reluctance to accept Barisan Nasional's (BN) win at the national level, but accepted their own victory in three states.

Criticising the opposition for their selective attitude, Najib said he found it weird because the decision was made through the same system, based on the people's choice through the 13th General Election last Sunday.

"The weird thing is that they questioned BN's win at the national level, but accepted the results in the states which they won.

"In Kelantan, Selangor and Penang, they are going ahead with appointing the menteris besar and chief minister.

"So, why can't they accept at the national level as they accepted at the state level...don't be selective...when you win, you accept, when you do not win, you do not accept, it cannot be like that," he told reporters after a special meeting with BN parliamentary members at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here.

On the opposition's plan to stage a gathering to protest the BN's win at national level, Najib said that should not happen because there were laws and regulations in the country, through which they could channel their dissatisfaction.

"If (they are) not satisfied, provide evidence, don't stage a gathering," he said.

He said there was also dissatisfaction on BN's part, for example, over certain matters which did not favour the coalition, like votes which favoured BN had to be thrown away because they were stained with the indelible ink.

"In several places, there were incidents where the ballot papers were stained with ink and had to thrown away...even (former human resources minister) Datuk (Dr) S. Subramaniam said more than 700 votes for BN were rejected due to spill of the indelible ink...but we accepted that because it was the decision of the Election Commission," he said.

On the opposition claiming that it obtained more popular votes, Najib said Malaysia adopted a constitutional monarchy system and not the presidential system like in the United States of America.

"Every country has a system...you have to accept the system...if you want the popular votes, you go for presidential system. But ours is not presidential system, but based on parliamentary constituency," he said.

(Source: Bernama)