PM: Taib will step down, believe me

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has begun his six-day whirlwind tour of Sarawak with an assurance that Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud will step down.

“I have spoken to him. The chief minister had promised that there will be a succession. Believe me. When the time comes, it will happen. Don't be rash and incited by the opposition,” said Najib.

Najib said this in his 25-minute speech to about 2,000 people during a rally at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) indoor stadium in Bintawa at the northeast corner of Kuching.

This was part of Najib's speech in which he rebutted several main points raised in Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat's campaign, which is now in its fifth day.

Najib said that the age of a leader should not be an issue and pointed out that on the opposition front, there were numerous ageing leaders as well.

“A lot of opposition leaders are also old. How long has Lim Kit Siang been in politics? 44 years. He is not a new person. Karpal? He is 71 years old. Nik Aziz? 80. Hadi? Anwar?” he asked.

In comparison, he said Taib is 75 and has ruled Sarawak for 30 years.

The CM's long tenure, alleged immense wealth and allegations of corruption has been the focal point of the opposition’s campaign.

'Change equals uncertainty'

Najib said voters must be wary of the opposition's battlecry “change” and contrast it with BN's numerous “transformation” strategies such as the Government Transformation Programme and Economic Transformation Plan.

“There are dangers if we are tricked by the word 'change'. If change is done in a rushed manner and not systematically, change can bring uncertainty. We do not want uncertainty.

“Uncertainty is bad for business. It is bad for confidence. If we plan change, the way BN is doing, then change will be for the better and the people of Malaysia would benefit from change,” he said.

Najib then listed out the successes of his administration in bringing “transformation” including a 15 percent reduction in crime and a 400 percent increase in foreign direct investment for 2010.

He said that he had visited Sarawak many times and a strong mandate from the electorate would bring more “change” to the state.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the difference between us and the opposition. They can only promise, but promises are no guarantee. But BN we not only promise but we can deliver and we have delivered for the country,” he said.

Pakatan successes BN’s doing

Najib also claimed that Pakatan-ruled Selangor, Penang and Kedah had often claimed credit for the work of the federal government while the respective state governments failed to fulfill their election pledges.

“Don't let it them trick you into thinking that this was the deed of the state governments. This is result of the BN federal government's work,” he said.

He urged the mostly Chinese audience to support the five BN candidates in the Kuching area in order for them to continue representing the community in the state government.

In a thinly veiled threat, Najib said that he was more inclined to listen to appeals from a BN elected representative, rather than an opposition elected representative.

“If an elected representative gives me (an appeal) letter, I will listen and consider. If it is given by an opposition wakil rakyat, belum tau lagi nak lulus tak nak lulus (we don't know if it will be approved or not).

“But if it is a BN wakil rakyat, chances are high that we will approve application,” he said.

Liars can't be premier

Later, Najib honed in on his arch-nemesis PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, and alluded that the former was a liar and had numerous “personal problems”.

“He promised to take over the federal government on Sept 16 (2008). But he lied. Correct?” said Najib, eliciting a loud “Yes” from the crowd.

“He said that the King was waiting for him to show signatures (of BN MPs who had defected. This is a lie. The King didn't know. Liar's cannot be the prime minister. Don't do something that will bring misfortune to the country,” he said.

At the event all participants donned 1Malaysia T-shirts given out at the door along with small 1Malaysia flags, that they waved after the national and Sarawak anthem.

Tellingly, there was a mad rush after the event when participants fell over one another trying to grab hold of goodie bags that were being distributed.

Each goodie bag contained a poster of Najib and a Tupperware brand water tumbler or sandwich container.

The BN candidates for Pending, Padungan, Batu Kawah, Batu Lintang and Kota Sentosa were in attendance. It is unsure who were the actual organisers of the event.