IN his last speech before polling day, Pakatan Harapan deputy president Lim Guan Eng yesterday hit out at two Barisan Nasional leaders – caretaker prime minister Najib Razak and Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow.

He bashed Najib for making more election promises the night before polling day and after BN had launched its election manifesto.

“I heard the PM promised that toll will be free for five days during Hari Raya if BN is given the mandate again. 

“What is five days? PH wants to abolish toll on the North-South Expressway,” he said at a mega ceramah at the Penang Esplanade last night before a crowd of several thousand.

“Why you didn’t mention that in your manifesto? We in PH will follow our manifesto, which we have given a lot of thought to. 

“We are not like Najib… already launched the BN manifesto but realises later that it is not enough, and then adds more pledges because he knows BN will lose tomorrow.”

Najib made the announcement at 10pm last night at the same time PH chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad addressed Malaysians via Facebook Live. The BN chairman also announced that those under 26 would be exempted from paying income tax.

Lim, who is DAP secretary-general, said: “Ini betul-betul beli undi” (this is really vote buying).

“Why only those under 26? How many in that age group make enough to pay income tax? This is an empty promise.

“If BN wants to help, Najib should announce that tax collected will be used to help the people. Go after the rich who evade tax… the big sharks like Jho Low,” he said, referring to Low Taek Jho, businessman and Najib’s close associate, who is linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

“Why Najib does not dare to announce that they will go after Jho Low? That means we will continue to suffer if BN wins. They will continue to oppress the people.”

On Najib’s announcement that May 13 and 14 would be declared special holidays should BN be returned to power, Lim said: “Copycat”.

He said never in history had a party made more pledges after it had presented the election manifesto.

“If more pledges have to be made, it means the earlier manifesto was flawed and useless. So what he (Najib) promised earlier cannot be trusted and are empty promises.”

Lim drew a comparison between Dr Mahathir’s and Najib’s final speeches, saying Najib was evidently buying votes.

“This is irresponsible and against election regulations. But no action will be taken against him as long as he is prime minister.

“That is why we see the (caretaker) prime minister doing all he can to win the election. Before this, no prime minister acted like this. Do we want a prime minister and a government like this?”

Lim, who is Penang caretaker chief minister, then turned his attention to Teng, who is the state Gerakan chairman and who is contesting the Tanjung Bungah state seat.

Teng had recently said if Lim was jailed at the end of his corruption trial, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the potential Penang deputy chief minister I, would collaborate with Umno to form a unity government.

He implied to ensure Penang continued to have a Chinese chief minister, it was necessary to vote more Chinese reps from BN into the state legislative assembly. Gerakan and MCA were wiped out in the last two general elections in Penang.

Lim said Teng had used a “dirty and racist tactic” in urging Chinese voters to support Chinese candidates so that Penang would continue to have a Chinese chief minister.

“Teng has gone too far this time. It is like what PAS has said, that Muslim voters must support Muslim candidates. 

“Support should be given based on a candidate’s character and the principles he or she stands for, not the person’s race. We have to reject this kind of chauvinistic leaders.

“So if Lim Guan Eng is not Chinese, then what am I? Well, I am sure I am a Malaysian.” – May 9, 2018.