KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak has criticised Pakatan Harapan for supporting Barisan Nasional-initiated projects which were previously labelled as "selling off the nation's sovereignty."
The former prime minister was referring to Water, Land and Natural Resources Minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar’s remarks in Dewan Rakyat recently that the government will continue allowing foreigners to buy freehold property in Forest City as it was in line with a ruling issued by the National Land Council in 2014.
"I can still remember how (Prime Minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his son Mukhriz visited Forest City, pointing at the 'freehold' sign there and accused me of being the only prime minister who sold off lands to foreigners,"
"But on Aug 2, Dr Xavier Jayakumar in Dewan Rakyat said the government has no qualms in allowing foreigners to continue buying freehold property in Forest City, Johor.
"The same goes with the Melaka Gateway project, where Tun Mahathir 'attacked' me and saying that it was proof that I have sold the country's sovereignty to foreigners.
"He also claimed that there is no need for the project as Malaysia already has enough ports and infrastructure.
"It is so weird, when Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari was recently qouted as saying that the Melaka Gateway and Kuala Linggi projects were important to the development of the state, to a point that it can bring back the glory days of the Melaka Sultanate," he said in his latest Facebook post last night.
Najib, who is also Pekan MP, said he wondered how the government could suddenly change its stance to consider such projects as important without making any changes in terms of the scope of the projects and shareholders.
"Whatever it is....all has been said and done. I accept all this and forgive those who made the unfounded allegations against me before.
"(Overall) I am confident that the projects mentioned will bring about economic development and provide job opportunities to the people.
"I pray that everything will run smoothly and successful."