Najib takes swipe at 'old' nemesis

Desmond Davidson Desmond Davidson Updated 8 years ago · Published on 23 Dec 2017 2:25PM · 6 Comments

SUPP triennial conference delegates pack the party headquarters in Sarawak to listen to Prime Minister Najib Razak today. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 23, 2017.

PRIME Minister Najib Razak today took a swipe at his predecessor-turned-nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying a 92-year-old man could not possibly take the country into a new era

“Can a 92 year-old man be a prime minister?” he asked Sarawak United People’s Party delegates at the close of their triennial conference.

The prime minister pointed out that age mattered even in Zimbabwe – referring to the recent ouster of president Robert Mugabe who is 93.

Najib asked if the ideas of a man in his 90s could take the country into a new age.

He said the only direction that could be taken by Dr Mahathir, who had been touted to be the prime minister if Pakatan Harapan won the general election next year, was a “return to Mahathirism”.

“Everything will be at the centre,” Najib said of Dr Mahathir’s policy of centralising all power and decision-making at the federal administrative capital of Putrajaya.

Dr Mahathir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

Najib said if Dr Mahathir were made prime minister again, the latter would clamp down on dissent. Sarawak and Sabah leaders who clamoured for the return of rights under Malaysia Agreement 1963 could find themselves in jail.

Najib said such oppression would never happen under his administration.

“I believe that to be a super Malaysia, you must recognise the rights of the people. What is due to them, give it back to them. I have no problem.”

The prime minister said he would discuss the return of Sarawak and Sabah rights on two conditions – that there is no talk of secession and that Sarawakians voted for Barisan Nasional in the 14th general election.

Since the beginning of the 2014 administration of the late chief minister Adenan Satem, Sarawak has demanded that Putrajaya reinstate rights that have been enshrined but ignored in the 1963 agreement.

In the last two years, the Sarawak state assembly has passed two resolutions to give the state government the powers it needs to demand the return of oil and gas rights and more autonomy over education, medical and health policies. – December 23, 2017.

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Comments

  • It may or may not be true BUT a prodigal son given all the advantages his entire life can destroy the future is pathetic and nightmare.

    Posted 8 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Jibby forgot 1 thing,if m happen to be the pm again definitely he and his bunch of rascal geng will hv to shift house to hotel sg buloh

    Posted 8 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

    • ....... nah..... only a few will end up at Bamboo river, many will be courted by the hypocritical PKR and Bersatu to "katak" and bolster their political strength ... and maybe even given incentives to do so ....

      Posted 8 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • Come on ...... the geriatric will "go" soon hopefully replaced by a better model ......... whereas the current younger one will have plenty of time to perpetuate his wrongdoings .....

      Posted 8 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • 92/93/ OR EVEN 100 YEARS OF AGED CANDIDATE AS P.M. IS BETTER THEN THE PRESENT P.M. WHO A/C IS DISCOVERED WITH DONATION OF RM2.67B WHEN THE RAKYAT FULLY TRUSTED HIM

    Posted 8 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

    • Yep, till today the Bugis never tell the people of Malaysia how the RM 2'6 billion suddenly appeared in his account.

      Posted 8 years ago by Brandy henderson · Reply