ON Sunday, former prime minister Najib Razak relived the adulation that came with his premiership as his friends and supporters in Kuala Lumpur treated him to a Hari Raya bash.

Pictures and videos posted on Facebook by those who attended the event, held at a luxurious event space called The Diplomat KL, showed Najib entertaining them and enjoying himself by belting out evergreens, including Cliff Richard’s The Young Ones.

“They requested him to sing. So he did. He can carry a tune,” said former Gerakan and Parti Cinta Malaysia leader Huan Cheng Guan of a video clip of the former Umno leaders singing

Huan was among the many people who attended the party.

Others included Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor, several of his children, and former DAP vice-chairman Abdul Aziz Ibrahim.

“Some 500 people attended. There were many young people too, which was surprising.

“It was organised by Daniel Goh, a social media activist who is not a politician,” Huan told The Malaysian Insight yesterday.

“It was just a gathering to remember his contributions and to cheer him (Najib) up a bit. People chipped in to pay for the event.”

Another attendee, JZ Dale Eusoff, who posted a video of Najib singing and selfies he took with Najib and his sons Ashman and Mohd Nazifuddin, remarked how happy the former leader was.

“...Honestly guys, you gotta be here…I can see how happy Dato Sri Najib Razak (is)...seeing us spending raya with him and his family.

“That’s what matters; the rest of us still believing in him. We want him back. We missed him so much. He has contributed so much to the nation…” JZ Dale wrote.

JZ Dale also recorded the speeches by Goh and Najib, sharing the video on his Facebook page.

Goh, who sang praises of the former prime minister, said this was the first time the people had organised an open house for Najib.

He said the present government would not last because “they can lie to some people some times but not all the people all the time”.

“We await your return to lead us. We miss ‘zaman Najib’ (Najib’s time in government),” he told the ousted leader.

Najib said in his 42 years in politics, that he was lost for words, as he had never attended such an event, which was hosted by the people simply because they believed him.

He said the people made the event special as they were willing to make contributions from their hearts.

“Thank you to each of you for making this special,” he said.

In his speech, Najib said what hurt him most about the May 9 election results was losing the ability to deliver his vision and transformation plan.

“I really believed that if on May 9, the people had given me an additional five years or so, with the plan Malaysia would really become a first-rate nation.

“I had laid out a complete plan from Perlis to Sabah… but unfortunately, due to politics of hate, lies, and false promises, the people were deluded into thinking change was good for us.

“Is it really a change? (Or do you see a) return of the old policies? Emergence of the old cronies? What change are we talking about?” he said as his supporters cheered in agreement.

Among others, Najib also said infrastructure and transport projects planned by his administration that were now under review could have given young professionals and graduates jobs.

He said rather than talking of introducing a second national car, which would unlikely succeed and instead cost the people more, the government should be spending on a reliable public transport system.

“Although we are out of power, dreams never die. A strong vision will never go away.

“Starting today, we will be together in building a new Malaysia that we can be proud of. Hidup Malaysia!” Najib said. – June 26, 2018.