Democracy not ticket to badmouth country: Najib (Updated)

SERDANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak today said that democracy is not a ticket to badmouth the country.
He said even though the government was always open to differences, the act of mocking the country in pursuit of political gains was unacceptable.
"We can have different opinions in the democratic system but it is not an excuse for anyone to badmouth our own country.
"Such action done in pursuit of political gains will only cause other countries to lose confidence in our country," he said at the 46th anniversary celebration of the People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) at the Malaysian Agricultural Expo Park here today.
Present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Rela director-general Zulkifli Abidin.
Najib said rampant acts of abusing freedom of speech in the name of democracy to the extent of badmouthing the country was done openly through social media.
The Prime Minister said such action also demonstrated the lack of ideas and agendas to develop the country by the parties concerned (those badmouthing the country), compared to the government which remained focused on prospering the people and the nation.
Najib also linked the lack of agendas to help the people with the 'difficulty' faced the opposition-led Selangor government to resolve water crises in the state.
He compared this with the ability of the Barisan Nasional government in drawing up more complex development agenda for the country , citing the success of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project that had proven to be of great benefit to the people.
"If we can implement the MRT project, operated by unmanned trains … why can't the water problem be solved," he said.
Najib said what was happening in Selangor was the result of extreme political games with the consequences having to be borne by the people. — Bernama