In the past four months, we see the transformation of UMNO/BN mainstream media like Utusan Malaysia, New Straits Times, Berita Harian and Star from newspapers into “lies-papers” as part of the UMNO/BN campaign to demonise Pakatan Harapan leaders and myself, where I am described as a devil, puaka, even jembalang; that I am anti-Malay, anti-Islam; cause of May 13, 1969 riots; a communist; a stooge of foreign powers; that I dominate Pakatan Harapan and made other leaders like Tun Mahathir, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali and Mohamad Sabu as my stooges and puppets – all evils possible under the Malaysian sun!
But we can also notice something most unusual – that the intensification and escalation of the demonisation campaign of Pakatan Harapan leaders and myself, blatantly turning UMNO/BN newspapers into “lies-papers” through lies, fake news and false information, have not given the UMNO/BN leaders solace or relief, for they are beginning to realise that their worst escalation of demonisation campaign against Pakatan Harapan leaders and myself are not getting the traction or credibility to restore UMNO fortunes in the Malay ground.
This is one reason for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s latest political and strategic decision to make Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein as Minister for Special Functions in the Prime Minister’s Department, in addition to his portfolio as Defence Minister – clearly placing Hishammuddin as the No. 2 most powerful man in the Najib administration over and above the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi.
Clearly, Najib is more fearful that UMNO would be defeated in the 14th General Election than in the 13th General Election in 2013 – and the reason why the demonisation campaign against Pakatan Harapan leaders and myself have reached ludicrous proportion.
For fifteen years, from 1998 till the 2013 general election, I was accused particularly by MCA and Gerakan propagandists as a stooge and puppet of Anwar Ibrahim; but suddenly, after the 2013 General Election, I have turned around to make not only Anwar and Azizah, Azmin, Mat Sabu, but also Tun Mahathir and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as my puppets or stooges?
How is this transformation possible, except in the realm of UMNO/BN lies and falsehoods?
Only political fools, idiots and simpletons who do not use their critical faculties could fall for such lies and falsehoods – but I believe that truth will finally prevail, whatever the worst that could be done by the UMNO/BN “lies-papers” and their mercenary cybertroopers.
The lies that the DAP and I are anti-Malay and anti-Islam are most ridiculous. My political record of the past 51 years, and those of DAP, are an open book – we support justice and fundamental economic and political rights for all Malaysians, not just for any one race or religion. We are in fact more Malaysian than those who are attacking us!
In trying to cling on to power, UMNO/BN politicians have resorted to the politics of lies, fear and hate to disseminate the fear among Malay voters that if UMNO is defeated in the 14GE, Malays will lose political power and their rights in the country.
This is utter nonsense, for the Pakatan Harapan coalition comprising DAP, PKR, AMANAH and Pribumi Bersatu want to win, not just the 14th GE, but the 15th, 16th and future GEs – which means that the Pakatan Harapan government must demonstrate that it could deliver results and do better than the UMNO/BN government to protect and promote the rights and interests of all communities in the country, including the Malays.
I call on the UMNO/BN to abandon their politics of lies, hate and fear and resort to clean, honest and responsible politicking to compete for the support of the voters of Malaysia regardless of race, religion or region in the run-up to the 14GE.
Let the UMNO/BN mainstream media stop their demeaning role as “lies-papers” and return to their traditional and time-honoured role as “newspapers”!
(Speech at the Makan Malam Amal dan Solidariti Mazlan Aliman organised by Pemuda Amanah Johor in Yong Peng on Friday, 14th April 2017 at 10 pm)