Umno’s campaign tool: Sex, religion, media

Taxi drivers ask for permits, Najib gives them tyres. It shows how disconnect Najib’s policies and the real demand, says PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

KUCHING: Umno and Barisan Nasional are so desperate to win the coming general election that they are resorting to sex, religion and the media, claims PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

“How can they talk about Islam, the high objectives of syariah, when corruption is endemic, when discrimination is rife, when religion is abuse, and when sex is abused as major campaign issues?

“How do you talk about 1Malaysia when the minorities are abused and insulted?” he asked, pointing out that the Indians and Hindus may be in the minority, but they should not be insulted and humiliated.

He also questioned Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia campaign strategy which he alleged marginalised Sarawak’s Iban and Orang Ulu communities.

“How you allow the people of Sarawak – the Ibans and the Orang Ulu – being marginalised?
“Can you convince the large majority of Chinese in this country that they don’t feel discriminated against?

“Even as Malays, the large majority of them remain poor and marginalised.

“Only the few leaders are amassing wealth.

“These (abuses and insults) are being done, tolerated and condoned by (Prime Minister) Najib, despite talking about 1Malaysia,” Anwar told reporters during his one-day visit to Kuching yesterday.

‘Disconnected policies’

Citing the many BN billboards with words “Janji Ditepati’, he said these were were just a “desperate measure to portray Umno-BN as a party that honours, implement and deliver the correct policy.”

The billboards have mushroomed in strategic points all over the state to welcome Merdeka Day and Malaysia Day.

(Merdeka Day is celebrated on Aug 31, while Malaysia Day is on Sept 16).

Many people have complained that BN should not politicise the coming Merdeka Day or Malaysia Day, and what the BN leaders should have used were words and slogans that promoted racial and religious harmony.

Said Anwar: “The people know how many billions of ringgit of royalty of timber funds that have been accumulated and amassed in the past few years by these leaders and how much have been disbursed or returned to the people.

“There are apparent contradictions between slogans and practice. Nor are they consistent with the government’s policies as these are done during election times.

“Taxi drivers ask for permits, Najib gives them tyres. It shows how disconnect Najib’s policies and the real demand.”