Perkasa today said that the criticisms of former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's management of the economy was contradictory to a Bank Negara report which had painted positive reviews of the country's economic growth.President Datuk Ibrahim Ali said that the country's economy grew 6.2% in the first quarter of this year and 6.4% in the second quarter, as reported by Bank Negara.
"So there is a contradiction between Dr Mahathir's statement that the economy is ruined and what Bank Negara said, that it was on the right track. So who is telling the truth?" he told The Malaysian Insider today.
Dr Mahathir had said on Monday that he was withdrawing his support for Najib and would now be criticising his administration as his performance was worse than his predecessor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Dr Mahathir said he had hoped Najib learnt lessons from his poor performance in the last general election but it appeared that he had not.
“Many policies, approaches and actions taken by the government under Najib have destroyed inter-racial ties, the economy and the country’s finances,” he added.
“It is not because I do not love my leaders. But I love my people and country more,” he wrote in his blog, chedet.cc.
Ibrahim suggested that Dr Mahathir and Najib sit together to discuss the issues that have been raised and, together, find a way to resolve them.
He said Najib also had to stop being silent and answer all the criticisms that have been thrown at him by Dr Mahathir in order to stop the people from slamming him.
"Each have to give their own explanation or Najib and Dr Mahathir have to seriously discuss based on the facts we have. Make right what is needed for the country's benefit."
"When there is a clear admonishment, I hope Najib as the PM takes it positively and Umno leaders do not have to be defensive as it will only bring about losses," he said.
He also hit out Dr Mahathir, who is Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister, saying that his criticisms were not very clear in discussing the issue in detail.
He said, Dr Mahathir's statement on Najib's "humble attitude towards neighbouring countries" also had to be further explained so that the people could understand what he meant.
"Many have asked me about what he said on this and the economy. The statements were too general. Many want to know what he was talking about in detail.
"Dr Mahathir should explain this. Even if it's not long, there should be a few examples so we can understand it clearly.
"Najib then has to explain the issues Dr Mahathir has brought up professionally and convincingly," he told The Malaysian Insider.
Ibrahim said leaders should accept Dr Mahathir's criticisms well as it was a "sincere" admonishment from a former PM who led the government for 22 years.
"We all know that Dr Mahathir has been very vocal and open since before, what more after 22 years of being the prime minister. After he had done so much for the country, of course he is more sensitive to what is happening in the country.
"His criticisms towards Najib is to see Malaysia grow into a great and strong country," he added.
Dr Mahathir, the former Pasir Mas MP said, should not stop with his criticisms as it was an "emblem of democracy".
"We practise democracy and the freedom of speech. So anyone, including Dr Mahathir, has a right to speak. We have to hold on to this principle. We cannot say that he's retired so he shouldn't speak," he said.
Taking a shot at opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the Perkasa president also said this was the best time to judge the sincerity behind the criticisms of Dr Mahathir and the former.
"We can assume that Dr Mahathir's comments are sincere as he has no ambition of becoming PM again. He has retired from politics, which is different from Anwar.
"Anwar is in the process of fighting to become PM. He has to make threats and accusations that will benefit his political career. He wants to smear the government to become the prime minister. Dr Mahathir is not like that, he is sincere," he added. – August 21, 2014.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/who-is-telling-truth-about-economy-dr-m-or-bank-negara-asks-perkasa#sthash.mmfm0HVk.dpuf
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