Zam: Najib, you're too little too late

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Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's legal letter asking The Wall Street Journal if they stood by their damning reports against him, is just a bid to hang on to power for a while longer, said a former minister.

Former information minister Zainuddin Maidin said it is already too late for the premier to clear himself of the accusations.

"Najib's move to take legal action can no longer save or cleanse himself. It can only lengthen his power temporarily, while facing the people's lack of confidence, political instability, and a murky economy," he wrote in his blog today.

Meanwhile, Umno blogger Shahbudin Husin said Najib's ( photo ) move echoed Zainuddin's theory.

He said asking WSJ whether they stood by their report, instead of suing them, showed that the letter was not actually aimed at the WSJ, but at Malaysians.

"(The demand from WSJ) is not what is important. What is important is that the lawyer's letter has been spread widely and has successfully calmed the worries of the people and Najib's supporters, so they can continue to be by his side," he said.

First PM to go down dishonourably

Najib, through legal firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, had emailed the Dow Jones, the owner of WSJ, requesting that its publication confirm whether it stood by its report.

The prime minister gave the publication 14 days to respond.

This is in regards to reports by the journal that RM2.6 billion of 1MDB had been deposited into Najib's personal accounts.

A joint government taskforce is already probing the claims, and have frozen six accounts, three of which Malaysiakini has reported as being Najib's.

Zainuddin said Najib will be the first prime minister to go down dishonourably, which he said will affect Umno's pride.

He said Umno leaders must now choose whether to let the situation become worse than it already is.

"They must make a wise, firm and brave decision, to save Najib, or to save Umno eventhough they may have to sacrifice Najib," he added.

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