PM refutes claim country became poorer under his leadership - Ahmad Zahid

As an example, he said, various development had been achieved when Najib took over the country's administration in 2009, including an increase in fixed deposit investments, as well as improving Malaysia's competitivenss to be among the 20 top nations in the world.

Najib, who is also UMNO President, made the clarification at the presidential briefing to delegates from 191 UMNO divisions at the Putra World Trade Centre here Tuesday night.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also UMNO vice-president, said Najib emphasised that it was important for delegates to be briefed on the facts which had been spinned by certain groups on the country's economy.

"On economic challenges, he (Najib) said that he must correct the facts which had been manipulated by a particular leader who had made various attacks to paint a picture that the nation had become poor and the people becoming beggars," he told reporters after the briefing.

Based on the Global Competitiveness Report 2015-2016 released by the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this year, Malaysia moved up two steps to 18, from 20, last year among 144 countries.

Apart from that, Ahmad Zahid said the UMNO president also clarified that the Tenaga Nasional Bhd's bid for the purchase of Edra Global Energy Bhd's assets was RM2.3 million lower than the winning bid by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), which had formed a consortium with a company from Qatar, Nebras Power.

"If TNB was given the offer, it would create a problem as it appears as though it was a bail out by the government for 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB," he added.

Ahmad Zahid said Najib's clarification on the disposal of Edra Energy's assets was an example that the 1MDB rationalisation plan was proceeding smoothly.