COMMENT | Firstly, let me say that I can foresee a lot of brickbats for writing this article saluting former premier Najib Abdul Razak, possibly the most vilified personality in the country today.

But what do I care? This isn’t a popularity contest – I’m not a politician who worries about winning votes; and I’m not bound by any party gag. I’m just an ordinary citizen, a simpleton from Sarawak who believes in freedom of expression and giving credit where it is due, even to the worst of men.

In case readers intend to critique me for this feel-good piece about Najib or a defence of the former prime minister, please do so in your true identity and not hide behind ‘Anonymous’ or other pseudonyms. I have no desire to waste time responding to those who are only good at taking cowardly pot-shots online. I believe my fellow columnists here share similar sentiments.

Now, why do I wish to compliment the man who has been accused of mercilessly plundering the nation? He deserves what he gets today for all the wrongs he had done while in office. I do not dispute that.

But I would like to look at Najib the man for a moment, and not the former prime minister accused of heading the previous kleptocratic government which brought Malaysia to its knees.

Fighting spirit

I can see the ‘fighter’ in Najib; I salute his indomitable fighting spirit. A lesser man would have ‘surrendered’ a long time ago.

Despite being hauled in numerous times by the MACC and police, being dragged to court and slapped with multiple charges, we still see him smiling and waving to the crowd every time he emerges from the graft-busters’ office in Putrajaya or the court...