The opposition is understandably upset with Prime Minister Najib  Abdul Razak over his Sedition Act somersault, said a veteran newsman.

“But I think they should be thankful to Najib for giving them more bullets. His about-face is a bonus to them,” added A Kadir Jasin in his blog post today.

As for the prime minister, he said the decision to maintain the Sedition Act could bolster his position as Umno president.

However, he pointed out that BN might need to pay for his action as it stood to lose more support among the non-Malays and liberal elite.

“In making the decision, he was addressing himself almost exclusively to Umno. He said he made the decision because he listened to Wanita and Youth movements and to deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin.

“It was a clever move. By shifting part of the blame to Muhyiddin, who has spoken about the dangers of repealing the Act, he is lessening his own burden of responsibility,” he added.

According to the former New Straits Times Group editor-in-chief, Najib is reaping what he sowed in behaving more like a president than prime minister.

Failed to consult Umno and party elders

He said Najib would not have been in this mess had he consulted Umno and party elders before repealing the Internal Security Act and Emergency Ordinance, and announcing his plan to do the same with the Sedition Act.

“The silent majority among the Malays was against the repeal of the ISA and EO. The repeal of the former lessened government’s ability to act against terrorism and the latter unleashed thousands of criminals and bad hats on the society with bloody outcome.

“Would he become anymore popular with the non-Malays liberal elite and the WOG (western-oriented gentlemen) by repealing the ISA and EO?

“The 2013 GE results showed the opposite. These people were against the government not so much because of ISA, EO and Sedition Act but because of the opulence, extravagance, power abuse and corruption of the ruling elite,” he added.

Kadir said Najib had instead offended the Malays of his own party, and the promise to repeal the Sedition Act only made things worse.

On the other hand, he argued that the non-Malays and the liberal elite did not help Najib’s dream of a moderate Malaysia due to questioning and insulting the Malays and their institutions relentlessly in the social media.

“Now members of his party may be temporarily relieved (with Najib’s decision).

“However, they should be warned not to swallow their president’s promises hook, line and sinker. He may yet do another volte-face,” he added.

Lives in a make-believe world

Since taking over the country in 2009, Kadir said Najib had misunderstood and miscalculated the mood of the people, including members of his won party.

“He is driven by exuberance more than understanding.

“His is blinded by his transformation zeal and he lives in a make-believe world created by his family members, advisers, special officers and consultants.

“These are people who, like Mary Antoinette over 200 years ago responded, ‘let them eat let them eat cake’ when she was told that the French people had no bread to eat,” he added.

Kadir said while Najib is the prime minister for all, it is foolish to ignore or be seen as ignoring the interest of the Malays and other bumiputera.

“For now, Najib’s position in Umno is unchallenged. The Umno masses have been temporarily pacified and his likely opponents disarmed. But BN’s popularity with the non-Malays and the liberal elite might have taken another tumble.

“Najib is still staring at the Ides of March less than four years from now when the GE has to be held. On the Ides of March, Julius Caesar was stabbed in the back by his dear friend, Brutus,” he added.

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