It is most regrettable that even before the official start of the 14th General Elections Campaign on Nomination Day on April 28, the Prime Minister and Barisan Nasional Chairman, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has already resorted to gutter politics using the “makhluk” language when referring to opponents.

At the PRIMA groundbreaking ceremony in Teluk Intan on Wednesday, Najib warned that a makhluk (creature) who had “a penchant for creating fake news” was contesting in Teluk Intan against the Minister President of Gerakan Mah Siew Keong, clearly referring to Perak DAP chief Ng Kor Ming, who will be carrying the DAP/Pakatan Harapan standard in Teluk Intan in the 14GE.

Najib had committed two wrongs: firstly, in using deplorable language against political opponents in the 14GE and therefore setting the worst possible example for other UMNO/BN politicians; and secondly, accusing others of “creating” fake news when he is the greatest manufacturer of fake news in the country.

I challenge Najib to a public event, where he could list out the ten fake news I had been responsible since he became Prime Minister in April 2009, while I will list out the ten fake news which he had personally created and must be held responsible in the past nine years of his premiership.

Is Najib prepared for such a public event, if so, just name the place, date and time and I will be there.

May be this will be the best way to address the problem of fake news, which the UMNO/BN leaders, propagandists and quinoa cybertroopers are concocting to demonise and defame Pakatan Harapan and civil society leaders, while relying on the Anti-Fake News Act to censor true reports about abuses of power and corruption scandals, like the world-infamous 1MDB money-laundering scandal, with threats of draconian penalties of RM500,000 fine, six years’ jail or both.

I call for the rejection of uncouth, ill-mannered and low-class campaigning. I call for decent, honest and civil campaigning in the 14th General Election 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.

Recent events have shown that good governance principles have beenthrown to the winds in the run-up to the 14th General Elections.

The most glaring case is the questioning by UMNO veteran leaders like Tan Sri Rais Yatim and Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz about the anomalous position of Najib’s UMNO, which should now be automatically considered illegal due to the delay in holding party polls.

Clearly, the Registrar of Societies (RoS) had no power to give a second extension for the postponement of UMNO party polls, and the UMNO Secretary-General Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had relied on the wrong set of laws to justify the postponement.

Rafidah had even likened Umno to a “headless chicken” with no members and no executive powers, and claimed that its president Najib Abdul Razak cannot be sworn in as the prime minister should BN win GE14 as the party he leads is no longer “legal.”

This is why Rais Yatim has urged the Umno supreme council to seek a court declaration on whether it has violated its constitution by delaying its polls.

UMNO leader should take serious heed of Rais advice, when the former Cabinet Minister said:

“Umno top leaders cannot keep quiet, they must get accurate legal guidance. If they do not do this, they would be seen as not taking the issue of the party’s constitution seriously”.

Rais said it was clear Umno must hold its elections by today, April 19 as Umno had held its last party elections on October 19, 2013.

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.

Do we have a Registrar of Societies who acts according to the law and not on the diktat of UMNO government-of-the-day?

Do we now have a fake UMNO apart from a kleptocraic Malaysia – all thanks to the nine-year premiership of Najib Razak?

(Media Conference Statement after walkabout in Kangkar Pulai, Johor on Friday, 20th April 2018 at 9 am)