COMMENT Prime Minister Najib Razak presumably took a leaf from his across-the-causeway counterpart Lee Hsien Loong's book by apologising for past mistakes of his government in an effort to recover slumping public support.

Najib offered the apology on a campaign swing through Kedah last weekend.

Although the extent and content of the apology immediately stirred discussion and debate, the fact it was offered in the first place was enough to count as indicative of the PM's perception of his position and his administration's situation vis-à-vis the electorate.

With a general election said to be just round the corner, Najib is trying every which way to get voters to stick with his ruling coalition that is battered by scandals of a serial nature...