PRIME Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not perturbed by the sudden spike in the popularity of his predecessor, Najib Razak, who has shrugged off a battery of courts cases and found a second wind on social media.

Dr Mahathir said Najib has no real impact although Barisan Nasional had won the Cameron Highlands by-election.

“Yes, they won but they lost a lot of votes.

“He seems to have gained popularity but only on social media and it is not a real impact,” he said today after chairing a Pakatan Harapan meeting. 

Dr Mahathir said Najib should have done all the things that he is now telling Pakatan Harapan to do when he was in power.

“He should have done the things he wanted us to do now and he might still become the PM. During his time, he arrested people like Shafie Apdal (Sabah Chief Minister) and Maria Chin. They were arrested and confined in a dark room.

“Now, we allow him to give speech and give him bail. He does not need to wear the orange lock-up suit. We are far more democratic, his government was kleptocratic,” said Dr Mahathir, referring to Najib’s freedom.

Najib creatred a social media stir last month when he launched a social media campaign which began with a photograph of him on a motorcycle with the slogan “Malu Apa Bossku” (“Why the shame, boss?” in Malay).

The campaign also followed a series of public engagements at several locations in the capital, whose audience comprised mainly of younger people.

He has also been actively trolling Pakatan Harapan leaders on its unfulfilled promises made before the general election.

Since losing the in general election, Najib has so far been slapped with 42 charges of corruption in relation to his involvement in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal. – February 1, 2019.