Barisan Nasional not racist or corrupt, Muhyiddin assures

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today hit back at the Opposition for constantly accusing the Barisan Nasional (BN) of being racist, saying that the ruling coalition wouldn’t be working with so many component parties if that were true.

“We are the most open political party, all races are with us,” Muhyiddin told a crowd of a majority Indian crowd at the Dewan Ruman Rehat in Teluk Intan Town, this morning.

“We have the MIC who take care of the Indians. If UMNO is racist we won’t work with parties like PPP and Chinese parties like MCA and Gerakan, LDP in Sabah and SUPP in Sarawak. Now we have 13 parties, they only have three,” he said.

He also said that the Opposition often calls BN “corrupt” but are unable to prove it.

“I am not afraid to talk about this. Don’t say this is corrupt that is corrupt but who? What? Don’t make baseless accusations.”

Muhyiddin was giving a speech during a ‘breakfast’ session with representatives from some 25 Indian NGOs from various sectors, in a move seen as a last push every last vote from the crucial community described as ‘king makers’ in the Teluk Intan by election.

Urging for support, Muhyiddin promised those present that if BN candidate Datuk Mah Siew Keong was elected, the programmes planned for the community would continue.

“Go out and vote. Those from the estates ask your bosses permission to go out for just an hour. Even if we don’t get 11,000 votes, 7,000 or 8,000 is enough,” Muhyiddin said, though he stressed that every vote counts.

“Everyone knows we help all (races). All will get benefits. All your problems, we will find a way to solve them,” he said, listing them down as continuous support for Tamil schools, crematoriums, and Hindu temples. He said economic development is a real issue while DAP’s harping of Goods and Service Tax are “non issues”.

On the DAP candidate, Dyana Sofya, Muhyiddin said he did not want to talk about her so as not to promote her, but alleged that the Opposition leader is unable to help Teluk Intan.

“If you get a DAP rep, you will look to her and all she will say is that she can’t help you. That’s why DAP reps can’t solve your problems. We will,” he said.

On BN’s chances of winning, Muhyiddin said that he has ordered all campaigners not to rest and to step up the coalition’s “last minute campaign”.

Asked about Prime Minister Najib Razak’s announcement that Mah will be made Minister if he wins Teluk Intan, Muhyiddin stressed that Mah’s win would greatly help the constituency.

“This is no gimmick. If the MP is a Minister, it is realistically good for the people.

Responding to allegations from DAP that Mah would be given the position regardless of a win or lost in Teluk Intan, Muhyiddin said: “Since he won as Gerakan president. He was never interested in becoming Senator. He wanted to revitalize the party. He promised to not take it up to me and the PM. That’s his stand and we respect that.”