DAP MP lauds PM, but fears people won't forgive if Najib forgiven

A DAP lawmaker has praised Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim for his humility and compassion in accepting his predecessor Najib Abdul Razak’s apology over the 1MDB scandal.

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer even asked if Najib would have exhibited the same degree of statespersonship after enduring so much hardship and persecution if the roles were reversed.

However, he is apprehensive about the consequences.

“We have worked hard to win the government. I want Anwar to continue to lead this country as the prime minister for many more terms.

“I am just afraid that if we accept the apology by Najib, the people (rakyat) will not forgive us,” he added in a Facebook post this evening.

Najib’s many sins

The Jelutong MP also listed several episodes that unfolded when Najib was the prime minister and questioned if his expression of regret could undo them.

“Can the apology by Najib undo the arrest of lawyer Matthias Chang and (former Umno leader) Khairuddin Abu Hassan under Sosma (Security Offences [Special Measures] Act 2012) when both of them wanted to go abroad to gather evidence on the 1MDB scandal?

“Can the apology by Najib undo the harassment faced by (former DAP MP) Tony Pua and other DAP MPs, including the numerous police reports and civil suits filed against them when they spoke up for Malaysians about the 1MDB scandal? 

“Can the apology by Najib undo the millions of ringgit in loans that still have to be paid back by the present government?

“Can the apology by Najib undo the arrest of (former Bersih leaders) Maria Chin Abdullah, Mandeep Singh, and former activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim, any others who went to the streets to protest and demand Najib’s arrest then?

“Can the apology by Najib undo numerous instances of injustice endured by the common man right up to the attorney-general (Abdul Gani Patail), who was sacked before Mohamed Apandi Ali was appointed?

“Can the apology undo the mental stress and emotional distress many of us went through, including (DAP stalwart) Lim Kit Siang who was sued by Apandi over the 1MDB scandal?”

‘I respect Umno as ally’

Rayer also made it clear that he has nothing against Umno, pointing out that he had even campaigned for the party in the recent Mahkota by-election in Johor.

“I respect them as they are my coalition partners in government,” he said in an obvious reference to Umno reiterating its hope that Najib would be freed in the wake of his apology.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that Anwar, who was a vocal critic of the 1MDB scandal, stated that he welcomed Najib’s apology.

Yesterday, Najib, in a statement read out by his son Nizar at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, apologised that the 1MDB scandal happened during his watch but maintained his innocence.

“It pains me every day to know that the 1MDB debacle happened under my watch as finance minister and prime minister.

“For that, I would like to apologise unreservedly to the nation,” he said.

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