“Arrest Najib Under SOSMA” And 10 More Quotes From Dr. M And Muhyiddin’s Pre-UMNO AGM Meet
Dr M and ex-DPM Muhyiddin's statements suggest that PM Najib Razak's administration might lead to the downfall of Malaysia.
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 08 Dec 2015, 07:11 PM
Putting an abrupt end to UMNO's decades old tradition, PM Najib Razak recently announced that the party's deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will not be officiating the Wanita, Puteri and Youth assemblies at the UMNO General Assembly this year
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin at the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman last night
Image via The Malaysian InsiderFormerly a strong supporter of Prime Minister Najib Razak, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has recently found the voice within him to oppose Najib strongly, especially after he failed to provide a clear explanation on the RM2.6 billion "donation" and 1MDB scandal, that remains unsolved to date.
Following suit, Muhyiddin, who was sacked right after he questioned Najib about the 1MDB scandal, recently revealed that he would go against Najib, should there be any party elections in the near future.
Muhyiddin was previously known to be a loyal supporter of Najib, always seen at the PM's side from the day he was elected as the deputy prime minister back in 2009.
After the cabinet shuffle fiasco, Muhyiddin, has recently found an ally in former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his fight against the 1MDB scandal and PM Najib's recent ways
According to a report by The Malaysian Insider, allies Muhyiddin and Mahathir were present at an unprecedented pre-UMNO Annual General Meeting gathering last night, 7 December, where they discussed the country's bleak future should Najib remain as the PM of Malaysia
This sudden meet-greet that was held on the eve of the UMNO AGM that will be held from today, 8 December till the 12th, saw eminent political leaders, openly declaring their unfailing support for ex-DPM Muhyiddin.
According to The Malaysian Insider, the crowd was apparently enthusiastically cheering for Muhyiddin throughout the night, with loud cheers that rang, "Hidup UMNO! Hidup Muhyddin! Hidup Tun Mahathir!".
The event at Kelab Sultan Sulaiman in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur tonight saw a huge turnout of people who jammed the hall and spilled out on to the streets, many cheering each time Muhyiddin and Dr Mahathir called Najib to account for alleged scandals involving state-owned investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and over the RM2.6 billion.
Also present at the event tonight were UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal and former Batu Kawan UMNO deputy chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan.
themalaysianinsider.com
Covering topics like the 1MDB corruption scandal, democracy, UMNO, as well as calls for Najib’s resignation, here are some of Muhyiddin and Mahathir's most controversial quotes from the gathering:
1. Speaking about his untimely dismissal from officiating the Youth, Wanita and Puteri assemblies at the UMNO AGM this year, Muhyiddin vowed to continue fighting for the truth.
"As a Muslim, my duty is to speak the truth and to speak out against wrong," he said.
Muhyiddin tells the crowd: "Every year I am invited to officiate the party's wings but this year I don't know why I have not been invited.
"Since the party Supreme Council made that decision, I have received many requests to convey my thoughts before the party general assembly begins.
"My loyalty remains with UMNO. What more when people come forward to give their support and tell me to continue fighting on the path of truth, they want me to continue speaking the truth and not to retreat.
themalaysianinsider.com
2. The former DPM slammed Najib for not resolving the 1MDB issue in the promised "six months" time limit, adding that the people are calling the unresolved matter a "scheme to scam"
He takes a jab at Najib's promise of resolving 1MDB in "six months", calling it a "moving deadline". Some people call it a scheme to scam, Muhyiddin adds. The money earned from investments, instead of adding to the country's revenue, is used to service debts.
"It is not money that's going back to the people. Those responsible for this should be held to account," he said.
themalaysianinsider.com
3. Bringing up the hot button issue again, Muhyiddin asks if the investments and debts under 1MDB has been "labur or lebur" (invested or resolved)
He said all that people want is a transparent investigation into 1MDB with clear answers. He mentions The Edge Weekly and Edge Financial Daily, which were suspended by the Home Ministry for their reportage of 1MDB's alleged scandal.
themalaysianinsider.com
4. Not forgetting the controversial RM2.6 billion scandal involving the PM, Muhyiddin asks, "How will you answer if people go campaigning wearing t-shirts that say 'Where is RM2.6 billion' during the next elections?"
Muhyiddin now touches on the RM2.6 billion donation that went to Najib's personal accounts. He says people don't believe the explanations given by Najib and deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said people have asked Najib to return the money to UMNO and Barisan Nasional if the funds were really a political donation meant for the party and ruling coalition.
"There is no case against 1MDB in the courts yet, so we can raise questions," he says. He also touches on the opposition's "Where is RM2.6 billion?" campaign.
themalaysianinsider.com
5. "I'm not sure if I will be given a chance to speak. Why is he afraid of me talking?" wonders Muhyiddin, while talking about not being able to address the UMNO members at this year's AGM
Muhyiddin reiterates that he will attend the UMNO annual general assembly this week, and so will Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal.
"If three million members speak up, this will finally make a difference".
The sacked deputy prime minister urges UMNO's three million members to speak up, as only a few leaders were speaking up now.
themalaysianinsider.com
6. "Is there no more democracy in Umno? Or democracy only for certain leaders? I'm afraid over time, democracy will be dead in UMNO," asked Muhyiddin.
Muhyiddin takes a jibe at the UMNO general assembly that will begin this week, and at which he has been barred from speaking.
"They won't be touching on 1MDB. Just find those who will 'sokong, sokong, sokong' (support, support, support).
But by not allowing the grassroots to speak on it, don't think it will save the party leadership.
themalaysianinsider.com
7. "Money politics and incentives have become a cancer in Umno," Muhyiddin lamented.
He then reminds the crowd not to take for granted that UMNO as a Malay party will retain the Malay vote forever.
Muhyiddin suggests that UMNO limit the president's tenure to two terms only. One term is three years, and UMNO usually holds party elections every three years.
themalaysianinsider.com
8. Agreeing with Muhyiddin on the state of democracy in Malaysia, Dr Mahathir said, "this means we are no longer democratic. We have become a party where leaders have absolute power.
Dr Mahathir tells the crowd that leaders have a duty to listen to the people and protect their interest, because they derive power from the people who elect them.
"Tonight we gather because our leadership has stopped listening to the voices of the people. The people are not allowed to air their views. They can only say yes to the leaders.
"The deputy president, vice-president, are not allowed to speak. Only selected members can speak. They are not allowed to touched on 1MDB, the RM2.6 billion," he said.
themalaysianinsider.com
9. Blaming Najib for the country's crippled democracy system, Dr Mahathir said, "it is Najib who should be arrested under Sosma, for undermining democracy."
Dr Mahathir says it is Najib who should be arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma), instead of 1MDB critics like Khairuddin.
"Lodging reports has been considered a violent act, so he is arrested under Sosma," he added.
themalaysianinsider.com
10. Urging Malaysians to speak against the atrocities happening in the country, the former prime minister stressed that, "No risk, no gain. If we do not fight this, we become victims."
11. Ending his speech on a serious note, Dr Mahathir lamented about how, "one day we will open our eyes and find that the country is lost and we have become beggars in our own country."
The former prime minister, along with several other prominent UMNO leaders have been very actively speaking for democracy, freedom of speech and doing away with draconian laws in the country.