“HARAPAN”, or hope for the country’s future, lies with the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, and not with the opposition, caretaker prime minister Najib Razak told early voters today.

“The fact is that ‘harapan’ is actually with Barisan Nasional,” Najib said on his blog today, addressing members of the security forces and their families, who will be able to cast their votes from today.

PH is the opposition coalition, comprising Bersatu, PKR, DAP, and Amanah.

Najib also said that civil servants, including members of the security forces, stood to lose their jobs if the opposition came into power this general election.

“The opposition, apart from belittling the functions and responsibilities of civil servants, including members of the security forces, also plan to reduce the number of civil servants,” he said.

Najib said that DAP-led research house Penang Institute recently reported that Malaysia’s civil service was bloated, and that only 430,000 civil servants were needed.

There are currently 1.6 million civil servants.

“There is a chance that of the 1.6 million civil servants, 1.2 million will lose their livelihoods (if the opposition wins),” said Najib.

“The opposition does not care for the contributions and sacrifices you have made for the country, and there are some that trivialise your sacrifices,” he said.

Najib urged the servicemen and their families to continue supporting BN, saying that by 2030, the government would provide 45,000 housing units for the army, 10,000 units for the navy, and 10,000 units for the police.

He said the government had also increased the haj quota for retired personnel. – May 4, 2018.