Najib calls out Gerakan boss for literally spreading 'fake news'

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak today accused Gerakan president Dominic Lau of displaying a fake news article as part of the latter's presentation at his party's annual delegates meeting today.

As part of his address this morning, Lau had shown a few recent headlines through a projection screen which he argued indicated that a Pakatan Harapan and Umno alliance was in the offing.

A Chinese article that Lau used cited DAP central committee member Lim Kit Siang with the title "I never said Najib was corrupt".

"Lim said he never accused Najib of being involved in corruption. This is happening my comrades.

"What does this mean? It means it is probable that Umno will ally with Harapan," said Lau.

Following this, Najib reacted with incredulity on his Facebook, asking sarcastically if Gerakan was trying to help Perikatan Nasional (PN) or if Lim - who has consistently been Najib's chief critic - really said so?

Eventually, he followed up with another post upon receiving information that the Chinese article shown by Lau was fake.

"I have been informed that the Gerakan president used a Chinese news article which was edited and the headline changed.

"This is to create the propaganda that Harapan and Umno will soon join forces. Lau said this during the Gerakan AGM this morning which was attended by the prime minister virtually," said Najib.

The real article was published by Sin Chew Daily on July 14, 2019, with the title "I never said Dr Mahathir Mohamad was corrupt".

Gerakan held its 49th national delegates meeting today in Kuala Lumpur. The party left BN in 2018 and joined PN in February.

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