MALAYSIANS should not risk their future by placing their fate in the hands of the opposition, Prime Minister Najib Razak said today.

Najib, who is Umno president, told Malaysians to choose wisely in the coming general election, which must be held by July next year.

“Umno has been around for 60 years, and had brought the country to great heights. So why should we take risks,” he said during the Umno Hari Raya open house at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

Barisan Nasional will likely face its biggest electoral battle in the next election as it squares up against Pakatan Harapan, led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and two former deputy prime ministers Muhyiddin Yassin and Anwar Ibrahim.

Najib said there is an hierarchy in Umno, a structured line-up and a clear leadership in governing the country.

“We have a good track record and we have a vision in TN50, and we know that Umno has a clear direction in governing the country. This is all very clear, so why are we taking the risk with a party which has no direction?”

Najib also said that there is political play involved within the opposition, where the strength of the party depended on who had the most seats in parliament.

“In this case those that have the most seats, have the most power, which is DAP.

“In reality it is DAP, and the leadership line-up does not matter, they (DAP) have the power.

“It’s the same with Barisan Nasional where Umno has the most seats and so the power is in their hands.”

When asked about Dr Mahathir and jailed de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s alliance in Pakatan Harapan, Najib said the question that is lingering on the people’s mind is what is their agenda.

“The questions on the people’s minds is that does Dr Mahathir still stand by his statement in 1997 when he accused Anwar Ibrahim as an immoral leader who is not fit to govern the country?

“So are the accusations made by Dr Mahathir against Anwar true or not? Or is he (Mahathir) willing to sacrifice his principles for political purposes, or is there some other hidden agenda?

“These questions have not been answered by Mahathir. If he continues to keep silent that means all this is a political show.”

The line-up for PH was announced on Friday with Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir appointed as PH chairman, Anwar as PH de facto leader, and his wife and PKR president  Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has been appointed PH president.

Umno leaders have been quick to fire broadsides at the top-heavy leadership structure of PH, claiming the coalition was doomed to sink as it had three skippers instead of one. – July 16, 2017.