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Big plans will disappear if BN loses Johor: Najib

JOHOR BARU — As hustings entered their final week in what is shaping up to be Malaysia’s closest electoral contest, Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday made a blitz visit to the crucial state of Johor and cautioned voters here that the “big plans” his incumbent state government has for them will “disappear” if opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins in the state.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, also president of Malaysia's ruling party National Front, holds up a booklet on his party's manifesto for the upcoming general elections during its launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, April 6, 2013. Photo: AP

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, also president of Malaysia's ruling party National Front, holds up a booklet on his party's manifesto for the upcoming general elections during its launch in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Saturday, April 6, 2013. Photo: AP

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JOHOR BARU — As hustings entered their final week in what is shaping up to be Malaysia’s closest electoral contest, Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday made a blitz visit to the crucial state of Johor and cautioned voters here that the “big plans” his incumbent state government has for them will “disappear” if opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins in the state.

Johor will “never be the same again” if the important stronghold of the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) falls to the opposition, he added.

At the centre of these plans for Johor — home to thousands of Malaysians who work, or are based, in Singapore — is the Iskandar project, in which Singapore businesses form the single largest investor. The state is also the birthplace of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) — the dominant party in the ruling BN coalition, led by Mr Najib.

Earlier yesterday, Mr Najib, who is facing his first election as Premier, said it was BN’s “very moderate and accommodating” style of leadership and policies, or what he called the “Johor way”, that has “led to a long period of peace and harmony and political stability”, which made these economic transformation plans possible.

Urging voters to factor this when they go to the polls, Mr Najib told reporters after a rally in Pekan Nenas: “If that goes away, then whatever we have planned, big plans, big dreams for Johor would simply disappear, and that would be a sad day for Johor and for the people of Johor.”

Last month, outgoing Johor Mentri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman had urged voters to cast their ballots wisely so as to not disrupt the state government’s target of attracting another RM160 billion (S$65.1 billion) worth of foreign investments to the RM100 billion already invested in Iskandar by 2015. A multi-billion-ringgit transformation project has also been set in motion for the 3,000-acre waterfront area facing Singapore, which will be redeveloped into a thriving hub with skyscrapers, prime housing and retail and entertainment.

At the Southern University College last night, Mr Najib sought to drive home his point. Referring to the consequences of voting for the opposition, he said: “It’s not like you can rectify it in five years’ time. Once you make a mistake, you will never, never be the same again. Not only you lose the momentum in terms of our economic transformation plan for this country, but once the nature of politics in Malaysia and in Johor becomes confrontational and divisive, it will never be the same again. Johor will never be the same again.”

Earlier yesterday, he took aim at the infighting within the opposition coalition that he said showed it was not a credible alternative to BN. A row within the PR has played out on national news ever since Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) deputy spiritual leader Haron Din insisted last week that hudud, or the Islamic penal code, would be implemented if the BN was unseated. On Sunday, Johor Democratic Action Party’s (DAP) Deputy Chairman Norman Fernandez dropped another bombshell by asking the electorate not to vote for PAS.

Said Mr Najib yesterday: “If you want to manage a government, you must have a strong coalition. The disputes show that Pakatan is not a viable and credible coalition to rule the country.” He also urged Johoreans to regard their vote as a decision on their future. “Don’t (choose) a future that is full of problems, with a future that is full of serious internal conflicts. Don’t push away harmony,” he said.

Speaking to more than a thousand flag-waving BN supporters at Plaza Sentosa in Johor Baru later, Mr Najib also dismissed Pakatan Rakyat’s call for Malaysians to vote for “change”. Citing how some are calling the Arab Spring in the Middle East the Arab Winter now, he said: “Not all changes bring joy and benefit.” He also pointed to the strong Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange and low inflation as reasons to reject a change in government.

Mr Najib’s tour yesterday included the parliamentary seats of Tanjung Piai, Johor Baru and Gelang Patah, which are all Chinese-majority seats that are being eyed by PR, especially DAP. PR has made Johor its front-line battle state in this election, fielding several top leaders here. They have targeted seats with a sizeable ratio of Chinese voters, including in the politically significant race in Gelang Patah which pits Mr Abdul Ghani against veteran opposition politician, DAP’s adviser Lim Kit Siang.

Last night, Mr Najib highlighted the significance of the contest in Gelang Patah in urging voters to back Mr Abdul Ghani; an “old friend” of Johor who has served as Mentri Besar for 18 years. The Gelang Patah battle is “very significant” because it will deliver a message about whether Johoreans “believe in our vision, in the way we govern Johor”. He also promised that the seat will “go back to the MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) the next election”. The MCA is a major party in the BN and has traditionally contested the Gelang Patah seat.

The BN’s decision to field Mr Abdul Ghani had ruffled MCA activists there, who halted their campaigning work for a couple of days. Former BN Chairman Mahathir Mohamad is expected to travel here today as the ruling party seeks to bolster support in this important stronghold.

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