I did not steal, am victim of smear campaign: Najib

PEKAN — Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak on Sunday (May 20) denied stealing public funds and blamed voters for not appreciating his government’s contributions and believing his rivals’ falsehoods, striking a defiant tone days after investigators seeking evidence of corruption raided his home.

“I did not steal the people’s money,” said Datuk Seri Najib, 64, during a visit to Pekan, a constituency in Pahang he has represented as Member of Parliament since 1976.

"The people of Pekan know I did not steal. For 42 years I have served the people here,” he added to members of the Pekan United Malays National Organisation (Umno) branch during a meeting he officiated.

The former Umno president maintained that his party and the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition did no wrong.

He insisted that the country’s progress and development were results of Umno's and BN’s efforts and maintained that both had conducted themselves with civility and courtesy during their unsuccessful general election campaign.

Among others, he listed the aid given to fishermen, farmers, smallholders, Malaysians in general through the 1Malaysia People’s Aid programme and pay hikes for civil servants as evidence of such efforts.

“Unfortunately, what we have done, our contributions, did not receive the appropriate appreciation,” he said.

He also accused his political rivals of fighting not based on policies or ideas, but of using negative campaigning targeting him.

“I am not upset over our defeat in GE14 as the people had made their choice and we must adhere to the decision. What makes me sad was that the defeat is due to the smear campaign aimed at tarnishing the BN leadership ... especially my family and me who were continuously attacked with various accusations,” said Datuk Seri Najib, who stepped down as Umno president and BN chairman shortly after the election.

“Besides that they (Pakatan Harapan) also made various promises including the moon and stars .... promises that cannot be fullfiled but that is what they (voters) wanted to hear and decided to choose them.” 

He also questioned the allegations made against his administration such as those claiming the country was nearing bankruptcy or already bankrupt.

Datuk Seri Najib noted that the Bank Negara Malaysia quarterly announcement shortly after the general election showed that the country’s growth remained robust at 5.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2018.

“Ladies and gentleman, can it be that, in just three days, they turned the economy completely around?" he asked.

“Do they have a magic lamp? Aladdin’s lamp? That in three days, the country no longer needs saving?” 

He said that if democracy was a contest of ideas, then the results of the election were not that of a democracy.

“Some said I will not hand over the power and instead cause trouble. I never had any intention to cause any problem but ensure a smooth transition,” he said.

“However when I handed the power smoothly I was instead mistreated and was under immense pressure. Whatever that occurred over the past few days was something unexpected including claims that I stole the people’s money,” he said.

Datuk Seri Najib described the current government’s pledge of implementing the rule of law as not being in line with its action towards him and his family members.

“At first they said they were adhering the ‘Rule of Law’... but do you all know what me, my wife and family members had been facing ... they checked my house and even took away the baby shoes. Even the marriage gifts were taken ...what is the connection between the marriage gifts or baby shoes with 1MDB,” he said.

Following a stunning victory in an election on May 9, the new government led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad has opened investigations into how billions of dollars allegedly disappeared from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state fund founded by Datuk Seri Najib.

The former prime minister, who has consistently denied any wrongdoing, and his wife, Ms Rosmah Mansor, have been barred from leaving the country.

Items seized by police from Mr Najib's residence and other locations linked to the couple included 284 boxes of designer handbags, including prized Birkin handbags from Hermes. Dozens of the luxury bags were filled with cash and jewellry.

Datuk Seri Najib and his wife had hit out at the media and police on Saturday over the way they handled the raid.

1MDB is under investigation in at least six countries, including the United States where authorities said 1MDB officials have allegedly laundered more than US$4.5 billion (S$6 billion) in funds through a complex web of opaque transactions and fraudulent shell companies.

Dr Mahathir had said this past week that he expected Datuk Seri Najib to face criminal charges soon.

“There were a lot of allegations made... I was the target because I was the prime minister and party president,” Datuk Seri Najib told his supporters in Pekan.

“So if my brand is weakened, then Umno's name will also be weakened. This is a political strategy."

He added that he was “amazed” that even though he was no longer the prime minister, many had turned up at the event in Pekan.

“I think this is the true spirit of Umno. Even though we are in tears... (and) power is no longer in our hands, no one can kill our spirit to fight on.” AGENCIES