FORMER prime minister Najib Razak’s first appearance on the Semenyih by-election campaign trail pulled in a large crowd last night. 

About 500 people filled up the open field near the Bandar Tasek Kesuma flats in Semenyih, to listen to Najib at the ceramah.

The crowd  started chanting his slogan, “Malu apa bossku” (What’s there to be ashamed of, boss) as soon as Najib’s vehicle appeared at 9.40pm. A rap song with the slogan was played at the same time to welcome Najib, formerly the Umno boss. 

Najib had been similarly greeted at Tesco Semenyih, where he recently went shopping, purportedly to check out the prices of goods.

Recalling the event, Najib said he had never had so many people ask him for a selfie.

“Never in my life have I ever been surrounded by so many people wanting to take a selfie with me. When a selfie did not turn out well, they would ask to take another one.

“It was remarkable. There were people on the escalators and below the escalators. Everyone came to Tesco for bossku,” he said last night to loud cheers and shouts of “bossku” from the crowd.

‘Bossku’ is the nickname given to Najib by his supporters.

Najib spoke for 30 minutes at the ceramah where he mostly criticised the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government. 

He stressed that the prices of goods are still high despite PH’s promise to bring them down be given the mandate to govern the country.

He also said the government’s aid for the people, Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH), is insufficient as well as inefficient, citing a complaint he had received that an 83-year-old applicant had to show her marriage certificate to be eligible to receive the aid.

“Her son complained as it was difficult for a woman her age to find her marriage certificate. You need to provide your marriage certificate to get the aid but to be a minister, a fake certificate is enough. You can even buy the certificate,” Najib said in a dig at  Deputy Foreign Minister Marzuki Yahya, whose dubious academic qualifications are in the media spotlight.

The paper qualifications of a number of PH leaders have since come under public scrutiny, among which are Mohamad Sabu who recently said he never admitted he had a degree in culinary arts. He also admitted that he had been kicked out of UiTM for his student activisim.

‘PH has done nothing’

Meanwhile, a local resident said the people of Semenyih are disappointed in PH because it has done nothing for them in the nine months it has been in power.

“At least when BN was in power, we could see the benefits for the rakyat in stages. PH has done nothing,” said Norhaniza Saleh. 

She said despite the controversy surrounding Najib regarding 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB),  he was the best prime minister who cared for the people.

“I don’t believe the claims. People can say whatever they want because they have their own opinion.”

Zam Zaini, 48, said many residents in the area are turning their backs on PH due to its unfulfilled promises. 

He said the allegations against Najib have made the people love him more. 

“PH cannot challenge what Najib has done. Among the benefits during Najib’s leadership were BR1M, 1Malaysia shops and clinics which were needed by the people,” he said. 

Another local who wished to be identified as Ida said her family feel let down by PH.

“Some of them were staunch supporters of PH but they are now rooting for BN in this by-election.

“I am confident BN will take over the state seat.”

The Semenyih by-election takes place on March 2. It is called after the Bersatu assemblymen Bakhtiar Mohd Nor died of a heart attack last month.

The candidates for the by-election is BN’s Zakaria Hanafi, Muhammad Aiman Zanali (PH), Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul (Parti Sosialis Malaysia) and Kuan Chee Heng (independent). – February 18, 2019.