Musa Hitam tells opposition to stop using his statements

Former deputy prime minister Tun Musa Hitam has taken exception against the opposition for using his statements to strike back at the Barisan Nasional (BN).

He said this concerned particularly, the subject of the potential of the government going bankrupt if they came to power.

Musa noted the BN seemed to have inflicted such a damage to the credibility of the opposition's argument on this issue that part of his speech delivered recently at the Bicara Minda series, allegedly in support of the Pakatan, was being promoted and displayed prominently in the latter's election campaigns.

"The Pakatan (opposition) seems to be so desperate to promote themselves and woo the support of the electorate that they had resorted to using me as their major weapon to hit back at the BN," he said in a statement.

Making his displeasure known, Musa said: "The resort to use me in this desperate political measure must stop. Statements claiming my support must stop.

"And resorting to using me and quoting me, using public billboards must also stop. I make this call in the name of fairness and political decency."

Alluding to the debate on the potential or otherwise of government bankruptcy, he lauded the verbal arguments of BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also prime minister, at the launch of the BN election pledge Saturday.

"I congratulate the Barisan chairman for his well-articulated arguments against the Pakatan on this particular subject.

"Without using me, I urge Pakatan to argue it out and leaving it to the good judgment of the electorate," he said.

In the statement, Musa further said that he had no intention of re-entering politics and that he would continue to express personal views on any political matter.

"I am an Umno and BN member and by that very same token, I certainly wish the Barisan to win this election. Indeed, I'm certain that the Barisan will win this election," he said.

Musa said this would be his only statement on the subject and that he had no intention to respond or entertain any call or further argument.