Some constructive criticisms for Najib
COMMENT Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak asked for constructive criticisms, and here is what a humble person can offer.
By and large, yesterday’s article ‘Dr M masterminded claim I stole 1MDB's money’ is the only resemblance to any effective counter-attack that came from Najib. Perhaps, this is the work of his newly-appointed publicist.
COMMENT Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak asked for constructive criticisms, and here is what a humble person can offer.
By and large, yesterday’s article ‘Dr M masterminded claim I stole 1MDB's money’ is the only resemblance to any effective counter-attack that came from Najib. Perhaps, this is the work of his newly-appointed publicist.
The other pieces that I read prior to this are simply obnoxious and hardly hold any water. It was just a bunch of rubbish and whitewashing, making no impact to Najib’s own reputation.
This time around, according to Najib, his ally-turned-nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the one who masterminded the claim that Najib had ‘stolen’ the money from 1MDB.
‘Masterminded’ is a strong word to use which aptly describes Dr Mahathir, but I am not even sure if anyone had used the word ‘stolen’ except that questions have been raised throughout all the news portals that a huge sum of money (RM2.6 billion) had been transferred into three personal accounts in AmPrivate Bank, belonging to one ‘Dato Sri Najib Abdul Razak’.
Stolen? I am not quite sure about that, but the question on everyone’s lips is: “Who else could that be?”
In the first place, it is mind-boggling - next to foolishness - how any politician would use personal accounts, even if the money was meant for his political party. It is only in Malaysia that this has been done too blatantly that no one cares that they will ever be caught with their pants down.
Previously, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman was cleared of the alleged RM40 million kickbacks for timber licences when the Attorney-General’s Chambers cleared the funds as “contributions to the Sabah Umno liaison body and not for the personal use of the chief minister”.
Who would believe this anyway? Although Musa has got away with this, it has added to the people’s distrust of Umno as questions why such huge sum of money was given to the Sabah Umno liaison body have not been answered yet. There must be some underlying reasons, which no one has been able to explain.
Therefore, the counter-attack against Dr Mahathir could have been more ‘effective’ if Najib had not used the word ‘stolen’ or just stick to the word ‘masterminded’. Using the word ‘stolen’ automatically conjures up the image of a thief, which Najib would not want to be associated with. If you ask me, it is a wrong choice of word by Najib!
Reminiscences of 1997/8
Looking back to the Asian Financial Crisis back in 1997/8, what’s the difference between Najib’s statement and that of Dr Mahathir’s accusation that it was George Soros who was solely to be blamed for the region’s financial woes, according to Dr Mahathir?
Different scenario, same tactics?
It appears that the same medicine used against Soros is now used against Dr Mahathir. Coincidentally, the PR mogul Lim Kok Wing ( left in photo ) recently said that if Dr Mahathir ( right in photo ) did not back off, his legacy would be destroyed. Is this then Lim’s efforts to save Najib’s skin by destroying Dr Mahathir’s legacy?
If yes, come on, there needs to be fresh new ideas - not the same old ideas used again and again! People can see through them with just one glance.
The people are not interested whether Dr Mahathir was ‘working hand in glove with foreign nationals,’ but whether Sarawak Report can substantiate its claims with documents.
Najib may be better off to sue both Wall Street Journal ( WSJ ) and Sarawak Report than to go after the small friy. At least, both WSJ and Sarawak Report could be silenced once and for all, but threatening to use the long arm of the law against all his critics would simply spell doom for Najib.
Do not forget that the allegations made by WSJ and Sarawak Report are damning enough for Najib; therefore, to use the full force of the law against the voices of dissent would further jeopardise his position.
The best medicine
In my opinion, what Najib should do is to take both WSJ and Sarawak Report to court, or perhaps, all the way to the International Court of Justice.
This would give Najib the platform to tell the world that he was never guilty of kickbacks. He should also take on himself to declare his assets as suggested by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. This is, after all, a constructive criticism which the wife of jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim had given.
If Najib can prove both WSJ and Sarawak Report wrong, his critics will respect him for it. That would also further consolidate his position in both Umno and as the country’s sixth prime minister. Perhaps, he would survive his sixth year and go beyond September 2015, being his sixth year and sixth month in office?
With his nemesis, Dr Mahathir, Najib should engage in a public debate immediately. Najib should show the trail of money involving the 1MDB and how the money was cleverly invested, but do it, please, with documentary proof and not just some general statements that could be proven to be untrue later.
This is where Najib and his team at 1MDB had gone wrong, leading to the current state of affair.
Since Dr Mahathir was once accused of big time corruption, Najib should dig up the evidence that can be used against Dr Mahathir during the public debate. I wonder if he can even find it.
The debate need not be an hour long; since this involves public interest, it can extend to several days to even a week.
If Najib takes my advice, he will triumph over his adversaries and I would be the first to salute him. He will not be a ‘political survivor’ but a true Bugis warrior and a champion. I wish him all the best!
STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.
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