Every Remark And Statement Made By Najib During His "Fiery" Speech In Seremban
Claiming how 1MDB is not taxpayers' money to why the 1MDB issue is not the most important thing right now and why 'white people' should stay out of Malaysia's affairs, the Prime Minister of Malaysia spoke on several topics linked to the ongoing 1MDB scandal, downplaying people's demands amidst many other things.
By Sadho Ram — 02 Aug 2015, 02:22 PM
After a series of exposés by western and some local media in relation to his involvement with the 1MDB scandal, it seems Najib has decided to take on his critics head-on. On 1 August, during a speech, which The Malay Mail Online has dubbed as "fiery", to the crowd of over 400 Seremban Umno delegates, Najib said "white people" should not play any role in determining the country's future.
As an example, the Umno president singled out Sarawak Report, the London-based whistleblower site founded and operated by journalist Clare Rewcastle-Brown. The site has been running a series of exposés on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy and has even linked Najib to the scandal.
“Under 22 years of Tun Dr Mahathir (Mohamad's) rule, there were problems too… But it was not like this now when everything is put out on Sarawak Report, as though outsiders are trying to determine who leads our country,” he said in his speech at the opening of the divisional meeting.
"I cannot stand for this, ladies and gentlemen. I cannot allow white people, the foreigners determine our future. What is their right?" Najib charged to the crowd of over 400 Umno delegates.
themalaymailonline.com
The Prime Minister, who just reshuffled his Cabinet after his Deputy criticised him for his handling of the 1MDB issue, however, insisted that as the top party leader he was open to criticism, especially within his party, but said it must be done through the right channels
The prime minister said, however, the criticisms and admonishments must be made in a proper manner and at appropriate places because if they were made at improper venues, they could destroy the party.
"If we sit down together, we should discuss. If there are insufficient information, find the necessary information. Its's okay if we don't agree on some matters, we can even argue, but not to the extent of hurling chairs."
"Table-thumping among us in the room is okay, but when we are outside, we are party members who are loyal to our party," he said when opening the Seremban Umno divisional delegates meeting in Paroi, in Seremban today.
themalaysianinsider.com
Saying when a decision had been made, all party members must show solidarity and defend that decision, Najib added that despite differences in opinions, Umno members must demonstrate unity especially in ensuring that it could win the coming General Election
"That's why I feel that we must strive to strengthen our party. Strong because we are united, loyal, disciplined, committed; then only our party can be strong and successful."
themalaysianinsider.com
Najib officiating Umno division delegates meeting in Seremban, 1 August 2015.
Image via Kamles KumarDuring the same speech, Najib also defended his administration from criticism over the 1MDB scandal, telling his detractors that the state investor's problems do not determine Malaysia's financial position and that the country is not defined by the 1MDB issue
The prime minister suggested that 1MDB’s problems may have been exaggerated to paint a bad image of the government, pointing out that it was even claimed that the firm had lost RM42 billion.
“The 42 billion is not missing, impossible to go missing,” he told the Seremban Umno delegates meeting today in his speech.
“The situation in the country is not as bad as what has been claimed by certain parties. The country is not been defined by the 1MDB issue,” he added.
themalaymailonline.com
The Umno President, who is also Finance Minister and Chairman of 1MDB's Advisory Board, added that 1MDB's woes do not involve taxpayers' money, stressing that 1MDB as a business entity had merely loaned money from third parties, and that the state investment firm's problems were due to negative public perception
The Umno president added that contrary to rumours, 1MDB’s investments never involved public funds.
“1MDB.... is not a development model that uses public funds,” Najib said, before stressing that the firm has only ever received a RM1 million in equity from the government and that its debts are backed by solid assets.
themalaymailonline.com
Najib, who is also Finance Minister and chairman of 1MDB's advisory board, said the state investment firm's problems were due to the negative public perception that has hampered the public listing of its energy arm.
"If you want to list a company, the perception must be positive. Because we couldn't list it, it created the mismatch that caused a cash flow problem," he said, stressing that the company's troubles are not "as bad" as people make it out to be.
themalaysianinsider.com
According to The Star, the Prime Minister was saddened by such perception that was spread through the social media, and that when the mind was clouded by negative perception, the people were not interested anymore in finding the truth about 1MDB.
"We are no longer interested in verifying things on social media."
“It is as if 1MDB has not done anything good."
“The perception has clouded our minds and because of that, efforts and initiatives that bring benefits to the people has now become something wrong,” he said at the presentation of offer letters to 1,200 imam and chairmen of village security and development committees under the Prime Minister-1MDB Foundation haj sponsorship programme.
Najib said when there was attack on 1MDB, it looked as if 1MDB had not contributed at all.
“Why do we look at 1MDB as if it is bad. 1MDB has done a lot and its initiatives and efforts had benefitted many,” he said. Najib added that when the mind was clouded by perception, the people were not interested anymore in finding the truth.
“This is when we have a situation where one is already seen guilty on the social media before being proven innocent. We are no longer interested in verifying things on social media,” he said.
Najib addressing those selected to perform the haj in Putrajaya on Friday, 31 July 2015
Image via The StarHe said the sale of a piece of land at the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) involving Lembaga Tabung Haji, which had been manipulated by certain quarters, was an example of how the people were easily influenced by negative perception.
Najib said the sale was a good business deal due to the potential value of the land.
“However, certain quarters had painted the deal as if it was to save 1MDB and because of the perception, everyone was against it and we are seen as guilty,” he said.
However, the most shocking part of his speech at Seremban was when he said that loyalty was more important (to him) than "smart people" in order to keep the party and his leadership united
Speaking just days after his shock removal of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin from the federal Cabinet, Najib said that loyalty was more important than “smart people” in order to keep the party and his leadership united.
“I will evaluate people based on their loyalty. There is a lot of smart people around but to find those who are loyal is rare,” the leader said in his speech at the Seremban Umno division meeting here.
“But by loyalty, I don’t mean blind loyalty. We have to work together in order to make our party strong,” he added. Cryptically, the Pekan MP said that a party should only have one leader, equating this to how a ship could only have “one captain”.
themalaymailonline.com
Najib said that the Finance Ministry, which oversees 1MDB, has already taken the necessary measures to reduce the firm's debt under the rationalisation plan, adding that all he is asking for six months to turn around the government investment company
He said he had held discussions with the Finance Ministry on the matter and the plan to turn around the company was being implemented.
"We have a programme to reduce the debts of 1MDB, and the programme is viable. We have to give it time. I would say we need about six months.
"We are not saying that we want to settle the debts today, (or) we can do so tomorrow, no. But we have a plan," he said when opening the Seremban UMNO Division delegates meeting in Paroi here.
He revealed that leaders from Qatar and China have expressed interest in investing in 1MDB's energy arm, Edra Global, and also its flagship Bandar Malaysia project.
"The China ambassador and the Emir of Qatar have both expressed their interests. What does this tell you? That there is value here. That the assets are there. The money is not missing," he said.
"Not only them, there are several other countries that are interested too," he added.
themalaysianinsider.com
Meanwhile, during the Kota Melaka Umno division delegates meeting in Bandar Hilir, Malacca, Najib said that he would not step down as the Umno President because three million party members were firmly behind him. He said that as an individual elected through democratic principles based on the new party constitution, he should be given room to serve Umno and the people well.
"With the strong support of Umno, I will not bow to the demand of one person to step down because three million Umno members are with me. I am not arrogant but I was elected (as the Umno president), so do not stop me from doing my best (for the people).
"There is talk that I was not wise to have discarded the quota system for the presidential election, but I want our party to be more inclusive, more democratic. So, I left it to the Umno members to decide," Najib said when opening the Kota Melaka Umno division delegates meeting in Bandar Hilir, Malacca.
Najib called on Umno members to support him, not in his personal capacity but as the party president.
"The support for me is not because I am Najib, not in my personal capacity; strong support should be given to the Umno president because we cannot have a weak Umno president for we must ensure the success of our party," he said.
Furthermore, Najib would again propose regulations requiring political parties to divulge the sources of their political funds. The PM said a similar proposal he had previously made, with the aim of ensuring greater transparency, was rejected by the DAP.
"The party president can source funds for the party. I can explain (the sources of UMNO funds), on condition that the opposition parties also explain the sources of their funds.
"The DAP has to explain. PKR has to explain where it gets its funds. I can also explain if they will. We will do so together, then it's fair," he said when opening the Seremban UMNO Division delegates meeting in Paroi here
He questioned the DAP's move to reject the earlier proposal, and said: "The DAP did not agree. Why? Anything to hide? When you do not agree, what's the reason?"
The first proposal was made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and required political parties to declare the sources of their political funding for transparency.
