Malaysiakini
Athi Veeranggan | Apr 2, 09 12:58pm
Never before has a premier designate’s credibility to assume the country’s top job has come under such intense public scrutiny as in the case of Najib Abdul Razak.
Veteran opposition parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang said Najib therefore should first address the unprecedented phenomenon of Malaysians doubting his integrity in taking over the premiership.
“Najib must first come out clean from all the public accusations and allegations against him before assuming the country’s top job.
“He cannot assume the premiership with a tainted character and frail credibility. He must first clear his name,” said Lim in his Bukit Selambau by-election campaign speech at a rally in Sungai Petani last night.
The DAP supremo opined that it would be “morally and politically incorrect” for Najib to become the country’s sixth prime minister tomorrow when the jury was still out on whether the newly-elected Umno president was the ‘right man’ to helm Putrajaya.
“Never before so many questions were raised on the suitability, legitimacy and integrity of a politician prior to his appointment as prime minister,” said Lim, who had been a parliamentarian since the days of the country’s first premier Tunku Abdul Rahman.
The Ipoh Timur MP suggested that Najib should clean all the ‘skeletons in the cabinet’ by clearing his name on a number of scandals.
Lim pointed out Najib has been under siege with several damaging accusations such as his alleged link with slain Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu, the subsequent mysterious disappearance of a private investigator P Balasubramaniam and the RM500 million commission payout to a company belonging to his close confidant in the purchase French submarines.
He called for a royal commission to probe into all these allegations to clear the way for Najib to take over the premiership.
Mahathirism making a comeback
Lim also warned Malaysians that Najib’s imminent premiership tenure would mark the return of ‘Mahathirism’, a reflection of the hardline administration of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
According to the DAP leader, the coup d’etat in Perak, sedition charge against party colleague Karpal Singh and the police ban on Pakatan Rakyat leaders from bringing up the Altantuya case in the by-elections were among the signs that ‘Mahathirism’ is making a comeback.
“This is dangerous and must stopped. Voters in Bukit Selambau, Bukit Gantang and Batang Ai have a national duty to send a message that they reject Mahathirism,” said Lim.
He also questioned the suitability and credibility of former Umno vice-president Mohd Ali Rustam as the Malacca chief minister given that he had been barred from contesting in the recent party elections due to allegations of vote-buying.
“How could he continue to helm the state government when he had been banned from his own party for alleged corrupt practices?” he asked.
The veteran politician also predicted that Najib’s era would mark the beginning of the end to Barisan Nasional’s political dominance.
“Pakatan will form the federal government in the next general election,” he thumped home to cheers of some 2,000 people.
#1 by voice on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 1:29 pm
Yes, we rather have all Malay cabinet or all chinese or all indian cabinet, we don’t want a corrupt and dirty cabinet, the “racially-balanced” spoken by Najib clearly shown he is not into reformation.
#2 by chengho on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 1:35 pm
uncle monsterball,
are u sure u are alright ? u need to do a medical check up , may be angio or bypass in that order?….
By the way big congratulation to Najib…LKY and Tun M in one package….Malaysia will fly to a greater height that what CNBC said this morning….
#3 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 1:46 pm
/// imranj78 Says:
Yesterday at 22: 19.25
PR is now obviously getting desparate and are trying to play with all these made up and fabricated lies. Why does Najib have to clear himself first when there is no single iota or drop of evidence out there to even hint that Najib is guilty?!? ///
Ah, yes, imranj, no evidence indeed.
One piece of evidence was blown to bits by c4, but luckily there are still some pieces of bones left as evidence.
Another piece of evidence disappeared after submitting two contradicting Statutory Declarations.
A third piece of evidence, the immigration records, also disappeared.
So, technically you are almost correct – the evidences have a habit of disappearing.
#4 by HJ Angus on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 2:04 pm
Since he has been sworn in as the PM, I hope he will act like the PM for all Malaysians.
This means working well with even the opposition states as they have been properly elected.
http://malaysiawatch4.blogspot.com/2009/04/malaysiakini-and-new-prime-minister-for.html
#5 by Godfather on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 2:14 pm
A combination of Najis and Mamakthir ? Glory, glory Bolehland indeed….
#6 by OrangRojak on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 2:22 pm
That G20 blacklisting is another mark of Malaysia’s importance in the global scheme of things:
It’s a pity Malaysia couldn’t ’support the blacklist’ but not agree to its inclusion on it!
“It’s just good business”
#7 by taiking on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 2:23 pm
Judge him by his performance? Najib said. Wot? Like clinton? Never mind the “inappropriate intimate relationship” he had with monica and just judge him according to his ability and performance?
Ah ha. Isnt there a hint of admission somewhere. The request for him to be judged by his performance is pregnant with unexpressed meanings. And yes there certainly are unlimited meanings that one could think of. And yes a lot of them would be outrageous or ridiculous. However, if the circumstances in which the request was made were taken into consideration, the possible meanings can be narrowed down meaningfully.
First, there are no better reasons for him to make the statement other than to seek or gain people’s confidence and trust. Hence, the request was made openly to all malaysians by him. It was not directed at any specific group of people in the country nor at any particular segment of the malaysian society. It was an open statement for everyone. This is an important fact.
Secondly and equally importantly, the request would not be made and in fact need not be made by someone who has a good report card to show or by someone who is popular or is well accepted by the people. In all these cases he already has the support, confidence and trust of the people. I cant see badawi saying “judge me by my performance” during his high point 5/6 years ago. It is so unnecessary and so irrelevant and so out of place that I am pretty certain it would not even occur to him to make such a request when his popularity was at 90%.
Thirdly, it could well be that najib made the request because he realised that he is exactly very popular or well accepted. I shall not go into the precise support he has in % terms. It is sufficient for me to say that he knew his unpopularity well enough to make that statement.
So why is najib not popular then? Rightly or wrongly, he has been linked with several scandals, namely. shady deals involving submarines purchase and military helicopter purchase. He has also been linked to the murder and disintegration of a woman and her unborned child using military grade explosives. The dead woman apparently was demanding for payment of her dues under the submarine deal. All these took place when he was defence minister.
Against this background it does seem probable does it not that he made the request because … er because … the rumoured scandal links are true? He has denied them – all of them – strongly and has even done so by swearing on the koran. I for one have no means or evidence to counter his denials. But in the circumstances, shouldnt he take the proactive step which LKS has suggested to clear his name? We can’t be a first world country if we have a leader who is engulfed by controversies, scandals and murder accusation. Apart from some countries that are trapped in what seemed like perpetual civil war / unrest, no other countries in the world has a leader who is a similar situation like najib.
#8 by taiking on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 2:28 pm
Sorry typo error. Missing word (NOT) inserted in block.
Thirdly, it could well be that najib made the request because he realised that he is NOT exactly very popular or well accepted. I shall not go into the precise support he has in % terms. It is sufficient for me to say that he knew his unpopularity well enough to make that statement.
#9 by boh-liao on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 2:43 pm
On the same day that NR was sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth PM, Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd has won RM1mil in damages over two libellous articles published by Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin.
RPRK’s credibility is now in ruin, a sweet news to the new PM and his wannabe-first-lady wife. A fabulous throne-ascending gift to the couple from Senior Assistant registrar Nor Hatini Abdul Hamid.
#10 by TheWrathOfGrapes on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 3:55 pm
“Will all great Neptune’s ocean wash this blood clean from my hand? No, this my hand will rather the multitudinous seas incarnadine, making the green one red.” – Macbeth
#11 by frankyapp on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 4:06 pm
Wow,what a joke,AAB’s doing a flip/flog job,and still received a Tunship for himself and wife just about 48 hours after his resignation as PM.
#12 by ctc537 on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 5:13 pm
Chengho,
Tun Dr M didn’t have to face what PM Najib is now facing. When Tun Dr M became PM in July, 1981 the international situation was very favourable for economic growth. It was the post-Vietnam War era, Reagan became US President and thus saw the beginning of the collapse of the Soviet bloc countries. In East Asia, the economies of Japan and the 4 little dragons, namely Taiwan, Korea, HK and Singapore, were booming. China under Deng Xiao Ping began its drives for 4 modernizations. On hindsight, we can see that Tun Dr M failed in his attempt to turn Malaysia into a newly indutrialised country although the country did experience rapid growth from 80s to the late 90s. The country’s exports were mainly from commodities, petroleum and electronics sector (mainly from Penang). The Look-East Policy has not resulted in Malaysia having established big enterprises in the likes of Hyundai, Samsung. The “Malaysia Boleh’ war cry has yet to produce an Olympic Gold Medal or Nobel Prize winner. Mahathirism has done Malaysia more harm than good. It is not unfair to say that Mahathirism has divided Malaysian society, and a section of the population developing a false sense of pride. I’m sorry to say that you have praised Tun Dr M sky high for his achievements. I hope PM Najib would reject certain negative aspects of Mahathirism.
You should be well aware that the only way for our Malaysia to go is multi-racialism, not the suicidal one that glorifies one race only.
#13 by computation on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 5:47 pm
“… flip/flog job,and still received a Tunship for himself and wife just about 48 hours after his resignation as PM.”
frankyapp
its a face saving gesture lah.
abdullah has been brow beaten
and bullied. got to be nice to him
once in a while lah.
#14 by monsterball on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 6:41 pm
Chengho is hoping I get a heart attack.
Lets see he can live to 70 and be as strong as an ox….like me…smoking 10 cigars per day…blessed with 5 children and 8 grandchildren and I can eat and enjoy food like before..same…never ..change diet at all.
Chengho is such a simpleton….writing nonsense…never knew he has such a black heart too.
Like Anwar never forgive Mahathir anymore….I shall remember what chengho wish for me.
To me..every day is a blessing..you bloody idiot!!
How old are you?
#15 by anna brella on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 9:16 pm
What are these TUNships? What do they mean and stand for?
And if they are the nation’s highest accolade conferred as a mark of recognition for good services rendered to Malaysia and the Malaysian People, then why are they being treated lik cheap, worthless trinkets and being handed out to those who have brought the nation and the Malaysian People to shame on the international stage?
IMO, the TUNship awarded to TUN Salleh Abas was meaningful. The ones awarded to Mahathir and AAB and some others clearly were NOT!
“Imagine Power To the People” John Lennon.
#16 by badak on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 11:53 pm
The voters in the 3 BY Election, and they a lone can show how they feel about Najib. If BN wins any of the by election. Then may god help us all.
#17 by badak on Friday, 3 April 2009 - 11:58 pm
Side track a bit.Todays Malay Mail front page report about a money changer doing work for the imigration department. The best part is that this company has the backing of the Home minister.
Uncle Lim please do something about it.
#18 by monsterball on Saturday, 4 April 2009 - 3:45 am
They award Tun to their crooks like ..Mat bin Mat….Mahathir….Abdullah….supposedly to protect them from being sued or in jail.
#19 by taiking on Saturday, 4 April 2009 - 11:42 am
Yes ctc537 you are right.
Mahathir s/o Kutty’s greatest success: creating a bunch of racist, mentally misplaced, power crazy and super greedy umnoputras.
We were suppose to head towards heavy industries with Hicom. Hicom now long gone.
We were suppose to be a car manufacturing hub for SEA. Now we are still stuck with car assembly. Instead Thailand claimed the trophy.
We were suppose to have the equivalent of silicon valley here in the multi-media supercorridor. What happened to it? Your guess is as good as mine. Another real estate development project?
We were suppose to have high tech industries. Still we are purely assembler. That is part of the reason why we need foreign workers. To keep the costs of down.
We were suppose to be an education hub in the region. This turned out to be a big great joke.
We were suppose to be a centre for medical tourism where tourists come to visit and for medical services at the same time. What happened? Fungus infested hospitals and burst pipes and poorly maintained air-con ducts are what we have to offer.
We were suppose to be so many things that we were not suppose to be or cannot be or not capable of becoming under the hands of umnoputras.
And all those suppose to be projects cost money. And whose money did they use?
I venture to guess. Perhaps zak, cintanegara, chengho and gang benefitted financially from those we-were-suppose-to-be projects.
#20 by yokielaw on Saturday, 4 April 2009 - 6:37 pm
With Tun comeback Malaysia will become more racist & islamic.He will lash out his last poison b4 he “goes”.Just watch.
#21 by anakpanglima on Saturday, 4 April 2009 - 7:56 pm
Whatever is it, Najib is already very “nasib” and the spell of his name will be cast upon all Malaysian.
He is now our Prime Minister.
If a french philosopher can say, “A bad king is better than no King”, I would add on to say that even a bad PM is still better than no PM. He is just like all of us, human and he needs all our support.
I won’t teach my children to condemn or bad mouth the elders and that include the PM.
Let us give him a chance to do his job.
The only place to expect a perfect PM is in a world yet to come for those in the Living state.
But having sad that, I still don’t think my vote will go to the BN.
BN, to me, has gone way too PROUD.
#22 by anna brella on Sunday, 5 April 2009 - 11:42 pm
How interesting.
Isn’t that the same “business first, hang human rights” China that supported the blacklisting of Malaysia on that G20 blacklist while not agreeing to blacklist her own territories on that blacklist that is now also actively supporting the SLORC/SPDC military dictatorship in ASEAN-member state Burma that has kept the rightfully elected democratic leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi imprisoned under house arrest for over thirteen (!) years and the Burmese people shackled in the chains of dictatorial servitude and poverty while they plunder and rape Burma to their heart’s content?
OrangRojak’s cynical view that “it’s just good business” is sadly, true and how the powerful in this world really tend to operate and use “diplomacy” i.e. semantic word games to fool people and justify what is clearly indefensible to logic and reason and compassion.
In my view, the human race is the only species on this planet, and perhaps of its kind in the Universe too, that f***s over its own kind for a “freaking percentage” in such a cold-blooded, clinical way.
“Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.