I refer to the Malaysiakini report Najib backs a freer media .

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is on record saying (to the Malaysian Press Institute no less) that there should be free and informed media.

‘If we are truly to build a democracy that is responsive to the needs of all the people, we need a media - both old and new - that is empowered to responsibly report what they see, without fear of consequence,' he is reported to have said.

Fast back to the 1950s, in China. Mao Tse Tung was trying to encourage non-party intellectuals to be on his side after the communist take over. ‘Let a hundred flowers bloom', he said, ‘and let a hundred schools of thought contend.' He was looking for a ‘long-term co-existence and mutual supervision.'

The non-party intellectuals came out with great gusto, and began criticising the Party. After a while Mao found it too hot, and gave up on the proposition. The intellectuals were put back to where they were, under stricter suppression than before.

Back to the present. Are our reporters, journalists, editors, bloggers, and all those people who write in the ‘Letters to the Editor' column of the newspapers and magazines to respond positively to Najib's call for a ‘hundred flowers to bloom and a hundred schools of thought to contend'?

Let's have a quick look at the facts. Najib is in a peculiar situation. He became prime minister by the freakish way our country appoints one.

The constitution says the King appoints a prime minister from those in Parliament who commands the greatest respect. He is otherwise, the people's choice.

But here, the incumbent prime minister grooms and appoints a successor, and then doctors events to make sure his grooming and selection sticks.

Even by this method, Najib is in a peculiar situation. When appointed as PM, his popularity rating in the public domain was lower than Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's!

And he is in yet another peculiar situation. He has a lot of real or perceived skeletons in his cupboard.

Drastic times require drastic action. So he needs all the support he can get. What better way than to rope the journalists in?

The present crop of journalists and writers might somehow be taken in by Najib. Their reasons might vary, from one to the other.

But wait, you guys. There is this man by the name of George Santayana. He has one solid wisdom quoted many times over by many people for many decades.

‘Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,' he cautioned.

Pay heed.