With Pas In Govt Muhyiddin Asks If Chinese Heard Potong Potong

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JOHOR POLLS | Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin sought to assuage Chinese fears about his party's cooperation with PAS, which has in the past pushed hard for the implementation of hudud.
Speaking at a dinner with the Chinese community yesterday, he pointed out that PAS had been part of the government when he was the eighth prime minister and asked if they ever heard about "potong, potong, potong", in an apparent reference to hudud which included amputation as punishment.
"There are some Chinese who are afraid of PAS... they are afraid of stories of 'potong, potong, potong'.
"When I was the prime minister, there were already three PAS ministers... Did you hear about 'potong, potong'? There was none," he told some 800 people at the dinner function which included business and community leaders from the Chinese community.
The reality, Muhyiddin said, was that when PAS is in power, it needs to consider the country's multicultural make-up.
"When they become the government, they also understand, they have to consider the Chinese, Malays, Indians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus - they have to take care of them," he said.
The dinner in Johor Bahru, hosted by Chinese business leaders, was organised amid campaigning for the Johor polls.
Muhyiddin said he did not want to see a repeat of the Malacca polls where a depressed turnout among Chinese voters benefitted BN that led to a landslide victory.
Muhyiddin said he had also heard certain narratives from friends that the Chinese community should tolerate BN's corruption and return to the coalition's fold for the sake of political stability as their businesses have been struggling due to instability.
"There are Chinese friends who have said that the Chinese, considering the difficulties, are thinking about returning to BN so that the problems will be solved.
"I asked 'you want to support BN?'. They said that Najib, it's okay, let him steal a little bit. How can it be okay for him to steal a little? The others might also join him," he said, in reference to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Najib has been convicted of money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust and is appealing his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine at the Federal Court.
He has made very public appearances during the Johor campaign, promising a return to the "glory days" of the past.
Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak attending an event in Johor recently'Robber in the village'
Muhyiddin also ripped into Najib for his corruption.
"He has been charged in court... I don't know when the cases will be concluded. But somehow, he is still going all over the country.
"Just last week he went to my constituency. I forgot to tell the villagers to lock their doors because a robber has entered my area in Pagoh. Thankfully nothing disappeared," the Pagoh MP quipped.
Muhyiddin implored Chinese voters not to tolerate corruption in exchange for BN's promise of stability.
"If there are people that think BN will bring stability, that is totally wrong. You must choose a leader you trust to take care of the country and the state.
"How can you put people from the court cluster, who are involved in many wrongdoings, who are corrupt, to take care of your state," Muhyiddin said.
Muhyiddin said contrary to BN's message of stability, it was the coalition that had caused instability.
He pointed out that there were 15 Umno MPs who withdrew their support for him, ousting him as the prime minister last year.
He said it was also Umno that dissolved the state assemblies in Malacca and Johor.
Muhyiddin said a PN government in Johor will be an administration that is stable and business-friendly.
'You support me, I support you'
"We need a fast recovery, and I am confident we can start it in Johor. So I appeal to our taiko leaders for help - you support me, I support you. Is that okay?
"I am pro-business... we want our country to prosper, we want people to get jobs, we want income to rise - not just low income but also high income.
"We want businesses to make a lot of profit, we want investors to come to create more jobs," he said.
He also reiterated the call for the government to reopen the country's border with Singapore, stating that with most people now vaccinated against Covid-19, it was time people lived with the disease.
Muhyiddin pointed out that as a cancer survivor, he was also able to recover after getting Covid-19.
"Everyone at my home was infected but thankfully, the symptoms were mild.
"For me, the doctor came and said because I had cancer previously, I needed to be put on a drip for three days but my wife - there was nothing," he said.
Campaigning for the Johor polls kicked off on Feb 26. Johoreans will go to the polls on March 12. - Mkini

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