KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned Datuk Seri Najib Razak that the latter would face a bleak future if he continues to use the same approach in his leadership.

He said he is happy that the government had openly accepted his criticism, but this has not caused Najib to change his ways.

“Those who do not take heed from previous experiences and continue with the old approach will endure the same achievements or worse in the future,” Dr Mahathir said in a blog posting yesterday.

Dr Mahathir noted that Barisan Nasional (BN) under his successor Tun Abdullah Badawi won big in the 2004 general election, but lost five states and had a huge decline in the number of parliamentary seats won in 2008.

“By right, his successor should obtain a better result. But, no. The sixth prime minister [Najib] did worse in the 13th GE even after government money was given to millions of people, and the New Economic Policy was abandoned, helping those who did not appreciate it, increasing the government’s debts, and listening to outside consultants among others.

“Many policies, approaches and actions taken by the government under Najib have destroyed interracial ties, the economy and the country’s finances.”

Dr Mahathir also expressed fear that BN would lose in the next general election if Najib continues as prime minister. — The Malaysian Insider


This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 8, 2014.