BARISAN Nasional has handed the opposition five “gifts” in the past week, the opposition coalition’s deputy president Lim Guan Eng said.

The “gifts” also serve as reminders why people must vote for change in the next general election, he said.

These are Prime Minister Najib Razak’s switch from rice to quinoa, BN’s attacks against billionaire Robert Kuok, Switzerland absorbing RM400 million in funds linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd seized by several banks last year, the seizure of Jho Low’s super yacht The Equanimity in Bali, and the probe on Penang’s undersea tunnel and highways project.

“Although the federal government talks about a 6% economic growth, the people are facing hardship because of the GST (goods and services tax).

“But the PM says he eats quinoa, which cost about RM600 for 10kg, instead of rice. That’s eating emas (gold), not beras (rice),” Lim said at a Penang PKR fund-raiser last night.

The DAP secretary-general said BN, which controls Putrajaya, should be replaced as it is a party that bites the hand that it feeds.

He cited the attacks against Kuok by Umno leaders, despite the tycoon once donating funds to Umno and MCA.

Kuok is also accused of funding DAP in an attempt to rid BN and install a Chinese government, Lim told the crowd.

“Kuok never gave DAP money, but I suppose Umno knows better than me, the party secretary-general.

“It is malicious slander. Umno just wants to play up racial politics… that is their dirty, racist and extremist lie.”

On the RM400 million from sovereign fund 1MDB, Lim said it was a loss to Malaysians and until now, the government had yet to send representation to Switzerland.

Putrajaya has also failed to act on the seizure of The Equanimity on Wednesday.

“There is no investigation by Malaysia. How could Low afford a RM1 billion super yacht?

“Why is the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission not after Low, or going to Bali to investigate?”

Meanwhile, on the tunnel and highways project, Lim said it was a “corruption scandal” played up by BN to attack the DAP-led state government.

“We have been asking MACC how an open tender project could be corrupt. But they don’t answer.

“Newspapers reported that politicians received kickbacks. Now we know who got the money,” the Penang chief minister said, referring to a businessman who allegedly received RM19 million from the project contractor to “settle” MACC’s probe into the project.

“The time has come. We have to make a change. You support Pakatan and only then, you will have harapan (hope). We have to change the federal government in the next 60 days.”

Lim said the 14th general election would be held in the next 60 days.

Other speakers at the fundraiser included PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, vice-presidents Dr Xavier Jayakumar and Chua Tian Chang, state PKR chief Mansor Othman and Penang Bersatu chief Marzuki Yahya.

The dinner sold 210 tables and raised about RM1 million for PKR’s GE14 fund. – March 3, 2018.