MUAR: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has refuted a claim made by former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that he had threatened to withhold civil servants’ pay if they do not vote for Pakatan Harapan (PH).
Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, said Najib, who is the Pekan Member of Parliament, should show proof of his claim and be more gentlemanly.
“With regard to the Tanjung Piai by-election, where Najib had made a false claim… I never once made any threats that civil servants who do not vote for Pakatan Harapan would not receive their salaries.
“When did I say this? Can he (Najib) show evidence? If he can’t, then be a gentleman. He shouldn’t make lying a part of his regular conduct.
“When did I touch on this matter? What I said was let the voters decide, choose a party that is clean and sincere in combating corruption. Choose a party which can manage the economy well to the extent that they can pay the salaries (of civil servants),” he said.
Lim was speaking to reporters after launching the Johor DAP 2019 convention here on Sunday.
Also present were DAP chairman Liew Chin Tong; Johor Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairman Mazlan Bujang, and Johor PKR chairman Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.
Najib made the claim via a Facebook entry on Saturday.
Lim, meanwhile, said that the government will not deny the people’s basic right to choose just because they do not vote for PH. He also said the federal government had approved a loan of RM191.5 million to an opposition state so that they could pay the salaries of civil servants there.
“Despite the insults, we still approved a loan of RM191.5 million for 2018 and this year (to an opposition state), because we do not want to burden the lives of innocent civil servants.
“We still gave out the loan so that their salaries are not interrupted, they can still earn a living to care for their families.
“Surely, we won’t deny the people their rights just because they did not vote for PH. What we see is that all civil servants have their pay, there’s no problem,” he said.
Lim also took another jab at the opposition by saying that if they wish to win the by-election, they shouldn’t resort to using lies or slander as it would make for a hollow victory.