KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — As more support pours in for Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his highly-publicised clash with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malay rights group Perkasa stepped in today to stand by the country’s longest serving prime minister, labelling him Malaysia’s “jewel” and Allah’s gift to Malaysians.
In a report by Malaysiakini, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali said that while the group is not taking sides in the row between the two leaders, it supports Dr Mahathir’s demand that Najib gives an adequate explanation to all the allegations plaguing his government.
“Allah’s gift to all Malaysians is Mahathir. He is the jewel of the country,” the former Pasir Mas MP was quoted by the news portal as telling reporters today.
“We are not supporting Mahathir blindly but since he is just asking for the truth, then in a way, we are siding him.
“It doesn’t matter whether you are the prime minister or not, everything must be based on facts,” he added, according to Malaysiakini.
Dr Mahathir used to be touted as Perkasa’s patron, as he often headlined the right-wing Malay group’s events and even graced its launch in 2010.
The veteran statesman said earlier this year, however, that he was never Perkasa’s patron, although he may agree occasionally with the group’s views.
In recent weeks, Dr Mahathir has been openly pushing for Najib’s resignation, saying that the prime minister’s refusal to address allegations on issues like the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu is putting Barisan Nasional’s (BN) rule at risk.
Najib responded last week via a televised interview with TV3, during which he said Dr Mahathir’s criticism was likely due to his desire for the “Crooked Bridge” project to be revived and for the 1 Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) cash aid policy to be discontinued.
The so-called “Crooked Bridge” was Dr Mahathir’s idea to replace the Causeway linking Johor and Singapore, but was discontinued by his successor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and believed to be among reasons why the latter was hounded out of office by the man who put him there.
Umno and BN leaders have also urged the former prime minister to cease his hostility towards Najib, warning that continuing to do so will only harm the government and country.
Across the weekend, Dr Mahathir reportedly said BR1M was spent on ingrates when others, such as those on the island of Langkawi in his home state, were in much greater need.
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