FREE Prime Minister Najib Razak has finally dug his heels in and addressed calls for him to step down directly, reportedly saying he will not do so on account of “one person”.
According to English daily The Star today that frontpaged the headlines ‘I will not quit’, the embattled PM speaking in Kuantan yesterday, claimed he had the support of the people and was not prepared to cave in to calls for him to go.
“Just because one person is demanding it, I have to step down? I will not,” The Star reported him saying during a support rally at the Kuantan Air Force Base.
Although he did not name that one person, he is likely referring to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his fiercest critic to date who has also made public calls for Najib to step down as prime minister.
Mahathir has battered the PM will an arsenal of key issues dogging the country, from the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibbuu to the billion-ringgit financial scandals surrounding Najib’s pet project 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and even the Goods & Services Tax ( GST ).
As attacks against his premiership mounts by the week, Najib has gone from state to state to rally support, yesterday in Perak and then on to Pahang, even repeating his spiel about “clogged drains”.
Notably, he has also elicited the help of veteran public relations guru Lim Kok Wing to be his programme coordinator.
Sultan's support
At the rally in Kuantan, Najib said that not only was he not alone, he even had the support of the Pahang sultan.
"Even Tuanku supports me. From the ruler right down to the people.
"I am touched by this show of support and will continue doing my best," he was quoted as saying.
Najib, who estimated there were some 12,000 people present, said he was able to pull similar numbers in other states.
He added that he was able to pull together 40,000 supporters in Sabah and 15,000 in Johor.
"I know numbers are not everything but I can see the sincerity of those present.
"We will win because we work together and when we believe in our leaders, the party will get stronger," he was quoted as saying.
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