Over in the peninsula, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's critics such as Dr Mahathir Mohmad have accused him of subscribing to the mantra that "cash is king", where support is procured through generous rewards.

Across the South China Sea, however, an opposition leader has accused the prime minister of being a miser instead.

Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian made the allegation in rejecting Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president James Masing's explanation on the use of military aircraft to ferry 180 village chiefs to Putrajaya...