DO NOT waste time on Najib Razak’s lies, instead focus on getting Malaysia roaring again as an Asian economic tiger, Finance Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told his party members today.

The Bagan MP warned his members that former prime minister Najib’s act of subterfuge would give him the opportunity to divert global attention from the largest corruption and kleptocracy trial in history.

“I have received many requests from DAP leaders to respond to his outrageous lies,” said in a statement today.

“The latest of which is the proposed Penang undersea tunnel, which he claimed cost RM6.3 billion when the truth is that it was awarded by open tender for RM 3.6 billion.

“What is the point of responding to the lies of a person so immoral and unethical that he has no sense of shame over tens of billions of ringgit of the nation’s funds stolen through 1MDB?

“Yet, he can be proud of his moniker, ‘Malu apa bossku’. The BN-controlled mainstream media and their social media will publicise his lies.

To respond to these lies, Lim said, would be to fall into Najib’s trap of him playing the victim attacked by all.

He said instead that focus should be on the rakyat, on improving the standard of living, increasing purchasing power and prosperity for all Malaysians, as well as bringing about institutional reforms promoting freedom, justice, the rule of law and public integrity, to restore pride and dignity to Malaysians.

“Let us not waste time on Najib when history and the 14th general election have already passed judgment on him.

“Instead we should redouble our efforts to bring positive change to the country, bring prosperity so that Malaysia can roar once again as an Asian economic tiger,” Lim said, comparing Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansour to former Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda.

Lim said Najib had been extreme in his racist attacks on Pakatan Harapan leaders, making DAP his favourite target, to pit Malays against non-Malays or Muslims against non-Muslims.

He also said that Najib, while active on his social media channels, had not explained fully the 1MDB scandal, and the billions of ringgit in his personal bank accounts that had led to corruption charges and “the largest individual tax assessment in Malaysian history”.

“Najib has also not justified why he approved the payment of RM8.3 billion or 88% for two pipeline contracts amounting to RM9.4 billion, even though only 13% of the work had been carried out.

“Worse, the 13% of work done remains unverified or unaudited,” he added.

In June last year, Lim revealed that the government had paid RM8.3 billion for the two projects worth RM9.4 billion despite only 13% of the work completed.

Subsequently, the project’s engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning (EPCC) contracts and other associated contracts were terminated in August last year. The total value of the contracts was RM10.4 billion. – May 27, 2019.