Stop the excessive politicking, says Najib

PUTRAJAYA: Time should not be wasted on excessive politicking as there is too much to do to keep the country moving forward, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“We cannot afford to waste time on excessive politicking because that will divert our attention from the bigger issue of fulfilling the mandate of the people in pursuing faster development.

“With the elections already over, the time has come for us to move forward as a country,” he said at his first monthly gathering since the 13th general election with staff of the Prime Minister's Office.

Najib also urged everyone to heed the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to accept the outcome of the polls.

On the claim that some 40,000 foreigners had been flown in to boost votes for the ruling coalition in the polls, the Prime Minister criticised it as an example of a calculated effort over several months to build public distrust against the Government.

Sound advice: Najib speaking during his first monthly gathering with the staff of the Prime Minister’s Office since the general election at the Perdana Putra in Putrajaya. — Bernama

 

“The accusation that we brought in 40,000 Mat Bangla (Bangladeshis) ... does not make sense. It is not possible to hide so many names on the electoral roll.

“To move 40,000 people, you would need 100 jumbo jets. To send them to the polling centres, you would need 1,000 buses. And if they try to vote, I am sure the polling agents will protest,” Najib said.

He added that the situation was unhealthy as it created a sense of paranoia among the public as shown in several incidents on polling day.

“It reached a point where just because a person looked a little similar (to foreigners), they ended up being assaulted,” he said.

Najib added that the Barisan-led Federal Government needed to learn how to better manage negative perceptions perpetuated against it online.

“Perception can be formed in many ways. Maybe not in a face- to-face meeting but through Facebook,” he said.

He added that such a “war of perception” had impacted the Government's credibility in the eyes of the public as some were duped by concerted efforts to discredit the federal ruling administration.

(Source: The Star Online)