The prime minister said the slander and lies spread by the opposition on the recent 13th general election (GE13) process, for instance, had created a wrong perception of the government to the extent that some students also believed the slander and lies.
"Until today, there is no proof of the opposition's claim that we (Barisan Nasional) had brought in 40,000 Bangladeshis (to vote for BN). This was slander and a very big lie in the general election this time.
"That's why I ask, are people not able to think (that it's illogical)? It has turned out that some people cannot think wisely, even lawyers can't," said Najib, who questioned the people's level of intelligence and rationality over such issues.
He was speaking at a luncheon with Malaysian students in Indonesia at the multipurpose hall, Malaysian embassy in Kuningan, here, Sunday.
Also present were the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Syed Munshe Afdzaruddin Syed Hassan and his wife Datin Sharifah Ikhlas Syed Ismail. Najib is here on a personal visit to meet up with a number of Indonesian leaders who are close to him, and for a rest after the GE13.
He urged the Malaysian students to think rationally whether it was possible for BN to bring in 40,000 Bangladeshis to vote for the ruling coalition as claimed, because it would require 100 jumbo planes to fly them to Malaysia and 1,000 buses to bring them to the polling stations.
He said the opposition's claim was absurd as it would also be difficult for BN to hide Bangladesh nationals in Malaysia as their appearance was different from most Malaysians'. "I, as the BN chairman, strongly refute that there was cheating by BN (in the GE13) as alleged. The general election was conducted in a fair manner and in accordance with the law and regulations."
Najib said BN had carried out a lot transformation in terms of delivery over the last four years and had validly won the GE13, but it lost in the war of perception because of the slander and lies churned out by the opposition through the alternative media, which many people believed in more than the truth provided by the mainstream media.
"For the next general election, BN must equip itsef well to fight in the war of perception. In reality, we have delivered, as Malaysia is increasingly prosperous and a good example for many countries, but perceived otherwise by some quarters." The war of perception is thus the biggest challenge for BN," he said.
The prime minister said he had stressed to the Indonesian leaders close to him that Malaysia-Indonesia relations was very important and should be strengthened through official and personal visits. Najib said during his visit here this time, he was interviewed by private television station MetroTV and Tempo magazine where, among others, he conveyed the message that Malaysia wished to see deeper economic integration with Indonesia although trade between the two countries was good at about US$18 billion (RM55.8 billion) worth.
He added that the target by 2015 was US$30 billion (RM93 billion).
"I conveyed the message with the hope that the compatible G to G (government-to-government) and people-to-people relations could be translated into enhanced economic, trade and investment ties which could further strengthen Malaysia-Indonesia relations," he said.
(Source: http://news.malaysia.msn.com)
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