‘Opposition inciting hatred for BN as they fear losing GE15’

KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional will not allow the opposition to continue inciting hatred towards the coalition and cause voters to fall into its trap of false promises.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the opposition was afraid of losing the next election and was making excuses about why the election should not be held soon.

“The opposition is trying to sway the people by saying that the election would be affected by floods.

“They have forgotten that their last prime minister, (Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohammad), called for an election in November 1999 and that wasn’t made into a big issue.

“The Sarawak state election was held on Dec 18, 2021. The opposition lost miserably,” he said in a statement today.

He said the opposition was afraid of losing the trust of the people, as support for Pakatan Harapan had been declining since the failed transfer of power from Dr Mahathir to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the coalition’s failure to fulfil pledges in its election manifesto.

He said the opposition admitted that its election manifesto was not a “holy book” and its lofty promises were only used to get votes.

He said BN was a stable and experienced coalition and not a populist one like PH.

He said BN made realistic pledges that could be achieved based on the current economic situation.

“We can also be populist and promise free tolls and free education, just like PH’s false manifesto. But BN is not like that.

“BN knows it is illogical to abolish PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation) loans because each borrower must pay their debt. This is also something Islam demands of us.

“It is also a populist move to offer free university education, but funds are needed to pay lecturers, support staff, maintenance, subscription to library reference materials and to improve university learning, research and teaching.

“BN knows this and will not deceive the people with grand promises. PH can do that and it will be punished in the 15th General Election.”

He said this was why the opposition needed time to convince the public not to vote for BN.

“The PH tour is only beginning and is expected to end in February.

“BN will not give PH and BN’s enemies a political lifeline by allowing them to finish their tour to discredit BN until next year.”

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