COMMENT | In Malaysia, no conspiracy sticks unless it drags in the words Zionists or Jews. The architects of such theories know these triggers will rile Malaysians, especially the Malay-Muslim majority.

So, in 2010, when the then-opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed in Parliament that the BN government’s 1Malaysia slogan was lifted from Israel’s “One Israel” campaign - via Apco Worldwide, the public relations firm hired by Najib Abdul Razak’s administration - it ignited a political firestorm.

Apco denied any involvement in creating the 1Malaysia slogan, stating that they were hired after the concept had already been established.

Following these claims, Anwar was referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee and was suspended for six months after it was ruled that he had failed to...