Largely silent on the issue, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak came out guns blazing last night, declaring that the opposition will fail in a duel on 1MDB.

Najib told a hall full of students in Kuala Lumpur that the opposition spews nothing but “lies” on 1MDB in a bid to steer perception.

He also said the state investment firm does not have liabilities that will burden the government.

“A China company now wants to buy at RM17 billion, so it looks like things can be resolved,” Najib said, referring to the CGN Group's purchase of 1MDB's power assets company Edra Global at that price.

“They just attack us in a perception war. But if we present the facts, they will lose. If we speak logically, they will loose. If we speak rationally, they will lose.

“What do they fight with? They don't fight with facts but lies ( auta) ,” he said when officially opening Persidangan Kepimpinan Nasional 2015 at PWTC, organised by the Umno education bureau.

'Arul Kanda more popular now'

Najib said the 1MDB issue has raised its president Arul Kanda Kandasamy's star and the man is now even more popular.

“1MDB is a perception issue but the reality is, there is a solution. All is not lost,” the prime minister and finance minister said.

As such, Najib believes that with better clarification, the people will understand and side with the government.

Najib's brainchild 1MDB has racked up debts worth RM42 billion, some of which have been guaranteed by the government.

The Finance Ministry-owned firm found itself in a strife when it could not generate enough cash to service its loans, resulting in its latest strategy to sell off assets.

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