DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang (above) has accused caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak of hypocrisy for accusing others of peddling fake news when he, himself is the "greatest manufacturer of fake news" in the country.
He said this in retaliation after Najib apparently referred to Perak DAP chief Nga Kor Ming as a "makhluk (creature)" yesterday.
Lim said the caretaker prime minister had set the worst possible example by resorting to such gutter politics even before the official start of the 14th general election.
In a statement, he said: "Najib had committed two wrongs: firstly, in using deplorable language against political opponents in the polls and therefore setting the worst possible example for other Umno/BN politicians.
"Secondly, accusing others of 'creating' fake news when he is the greatest manufacturer of fake news in the country."
Lim, however, did not give any examples of fake news by Najib, instead, he challenged Najib to a public event where he and the BN chairperson could list out ten fake news both of them have created during the latter's nine-year premiership.
"Is Najib prepared for such a public event, if so, just name the place, date and time and I will be there," he said.
He added this would be the best way to address the problem of false news, which he claimed were also being concocted by Umno and BN leaders, propagandists and "quinoa cybertroopers" to demonise and defame Harapan and civil society leaders, "while relying on the Anti-Fake News Act to censor true reports about abuses of power and corruption".
"I call for the rejection of uncouth, ill-mannered and low-class campaigning. I call for decent, honest and civil campaigning in polls to demonstrate to Malaysians and the world that Malaysians do not have to resort to gutter politics and the politics of race, religion, hate and fear to solicit votes."
Najib had used the term during a PR1MA groundbreaking event in Teluk Intan yesterday, in a thinly-veiled reference to Nga, warning that a "creature" who peddled fake news would be contesting in Teluk Intan.
Nga is the Pakatan Harapan candidate for that seat.
Najib had been referring to a 2016 retraction by Nga over a statement he made implying that the former's wife Rosmah Mansor attends cabinet meetings.
Take heed of Rais' advice, Umno told
Meanwhile, on the matter of Umno's legality, Lim, who is the incumbent DAP Gelang Patah MP, said the Registrar of Societies (ROS) had no power giving a second extension for the postponement of Umno party polls.
He stressed that Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had relied on the wrong set of laws to justify the postponement.
He pointed out that even former Umno ministers Rais Yatim (picture) and Rafidah Aziz have questioned the party's legality.
"Rafidah had even likened Umno to a 'headless chicken' with no members and no executive powers, and claimed that party president cannot be sworn in as the prime minister should BN win election as the party he leads is no longer legal.
"This is why Rais has urged the Umno supreme council to seek a court declaration on whether it has violated its constitution by delaying its polls," he said.
He urged Umno leader to take serious heed of Rais advice that the party's top leaders should not keep quiet.
"Do we now have a fake Umno apart from a kleptocratic Malaysia – all thanks to the nine-year premiership of Najib Razak?" he said.
Rais had yesterday urged the Umno supreme council to seek a court declaration on whether it has violated its constitution by delaying its polls.
According to Clause 9.3 of the party’s constitution, the supreme council is required to hold its polls every three years, with a further extension of 18 months allowed under Clause 10.16.
Najib, in June 2015, announced that party's elections would be postponed, as Umno had to prepare for the general election.
