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KOTA KINABALU: Former Prime Minister Najib Razak said that only Barisan Nasional can “save” Sabah, including defending its sovereignty.
Referring to the Philippines’ claim on the state, Najib criticized Acting Chief Minister Shafie Apdal for urging the federal government to discuss the issue with the Philippine government to resolve the matter.
“During BN’s time, this problem never arose because they (the Philippines) respected us,” he said at a ceramah in Kampung Sembulan Lama here tonight.
“But what has happened now? I was surprised when the CM made a statement urging the government to start negotiations with the Philippines. “If the people want to challenge the sovereignty of Sabah, langkah mayat dulu (over our corpses … if the people want to bring back Lahad Datu (raid), we will fight to the end … to save Sabah, only BN can do it “.
Najib was speaking when he was campaigning for the BN candidate for Tanjung Aru, Mohd Reduan Aklee.
Days earlier, Najib had also criticized Shafie in a Facebook post when he blamed Shafie for stirring up Manila’s claim on Sabah by urging Putrajaya to have government-to-government talks to resolve the issue.
In tonight’s ceramah, Najib said when he was prime minister, the Philippines was grateful when he negotiated the peace talks between the country and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Kuala Lumpur.
“This is the height of being a nation when people ask for your help … that means we are strong,” he said, adding that the same cannot be said for Warisan.
Meanwhile, Najib pointed out that it was time for Sabahans to accept the change that is taking place in the country’s political landscape, stating that the people of the peninsula have already rejected Pakatan Harapan.
He said that in the previous by-elections in Chini and Slim, BN achieved landslide victories over rivals. “That means that the PH has been rejected in the peninsula. So it’s time for Sabah to do the same (with Warisan Plus), don’t be fooled twice, ”he said.
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