PM: DAP has succeeded in changing PAS' direction
PAS’ new ‘welfare state’ clarion call is proof that its ally DAP has succeeded in changing the religous party’s stance on forming an Islamic state, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
PAS’ new ‘welfare state’ clarion call is proof that its ally DAP has succeeded in changing the religous party’s stance on forming an Islamic state, said Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. 
Najib (centre in picture), who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman and Umno president, said PAS should be consistent in its struggle and not be at the “beck and call” of the DAP.
“There must be consistency in championing a cause but PAS is not showing this.
“PKR is a hodge-podge party but I am puzzled that at PAS’ latest congress, new leaders rose up but it was the DAP that won,” he said at a meet-the-people sesion at the AU5 housing estate in Lembah Keramat, Hulu Kelang in Kuala Lumpur today.
Earlier, Najib, accompanied by Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Noh Omar and Deputy Foreign Minister A Kohilan Pillay, had gone on a walkabout in the area.
Following the congress, PAS changed “tack” and announced that it would give priority to turning Malaysia into a welfare state if it came into power, which was a U-turn on its plan to turn the country into an Islamic state.
Najib said opposition parties that liked to change ‘tune’ and make empty promises showed they were fond of lying, unlike the BN which spent billions of ringgit to help the people.
“We can see their promise to take over the government on Sept 16 (2008) did not succeed. Efforts to help single mothers and the elderly and to eradicate poverty were also not implemented.
“Penang is an example. They give a bit of help but make a lot of noise. It is like a chicken laying just one egg but wants the whole kampung to know. But the BN gives the people golden eggs,” he said.
Subsidies totalling RM20 million
He said the government provided subsidies totalling RM20 billion this year to reduce the people’s burden in purchasing rice, RON 95 petrol, diesel and cooking gas.
“Now world oil prices have gone up but we are still okay, not like the opposition which promises to reduce fuel prices if it can capture Putrajaya... that is Pak Pandir (pipe dream) economy, not economic expertise.
“Economic experts will not do this (increase subsidies) and that is why (opposition leader) Anwar Ibrahim could not become prime minister,” he said.
Najib said Anwar was not capable of becoming prime minister when he was finance minister during the Asian financial crisis in 1997 because he (Anwar) failed to put the economy on track.
“I was in the cabinet then and know what he (Anwar) did. He raised interest rates so much so the economy went into a nosedive and wanted to topple Dr Mahathir Mohamad (the prime minister then) just because he wanted to become prime minister,” he said.
Najib added that he was determined to win back seats lost to the opposition in the 2008 general election in Selangor.
He urged the people of Selangor not to be easily fooled by the opposition as the BN had helped the people in providing scholarships, healthcare, subsidies and free education.
- Bernama
