Yesterday, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak extended an apology to the people on behalf of the Barisan Nasional for the coalition’s mistakes in the last general election, which cost it several electoral seats and states including Kedah.
Najib said:
“I apologise for our mistakes prior to the 2008 general election. If we made mistakes in the past and the voters rejected us, we accept it.
“On behalf of BN, I apologise. We have learnt from our mistakes, and we aim and promise the people that we will make amends and bring them to greater heights.”
I was immediately asked on the twitter: “accept or not” and my reply was: “Yes, should accept if Najib’s apology for BN’s past mistakes genuine. Is it genuine or just election gimmicry?”
I scoured the news reports to be able to say that Najib’s apology should be accepted in good faith as he has identified and owned up to the BN’s past mistakes for which he and the present BN would make amends, but unfortunately, there is nothing whatsoever to come to such a conclusion.
In fact, one should ask whether Najib has issued a “blank cheque” apology, signifying nothing as to enable all the past BN mistakes of abuses of power, corruption and lack of accountability to be repeated in even worse magnitude?
For instance, in the fight against corruption. Previous Prime Minister Tun Abdullah had promised in the 2004 general election to end and reverse the tide of corruption which saw Malaysia’s Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) plunging from No. 23 placing in 1995 to No. 37 in 2003 with CPI score of 5.2 (10 being the best and 0 the worst).
Abdullah announced a five-year National Integrity Plan targeting at least 30th position in TI CPI 2008 and the score of at least 6.5.
In actual fact, Malaysia fell another 10 places in the TI CPI 2008 and was ranked No. 47 with a score of 5.1.
Najib’s anti-corruption target under his 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) proved to be another abysmal failure – instead of achieving the target to increase CPI score from 4.5 to 4.9 in 2010, the score plunged to lowest-ever 4.3 with CPI ranking at its worst of No. 60 in the 2011 TI CPI.
Is Najib apologizing for Malaysia becoming increasingly corrupt not only under the Mahathir and Abdullah years but also under his premiership which will be completing its third year next month?
Is Najib apologizing for the past and present corruption under Barisan Nasional, to the extent that Malaysia now runs the risk of losing out to Indonesia and China on the anti-corruption front in the TI CPI both in ranking and score before 2020?
Just before he became Prime Minister, Najib conspired and plotted the illegal and undemocratic power grab in Perak toppling the democratically-elected Pakatan Rakyat Perak state government headed by Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as Mentri Besar.
Will Najib apologise for this illegal power grab in Perak?
Mahathir’s 22-year premiership was dogged by a catalogue of financial scandals costing an estimated loss of RM100 billion to the country. Up to now, Malaysians are still paying for these financial scandals, as in the third and latest RM840 million bailout of former Malaysian Airlines (MAS) chairman Tajudin Ramli with his out-of-court settlement with Danaharta and GLCs.
Is Najib apologizing for this?
In the past three decades, the independence, impartiality, integrity and professionalism of major national institutions, whether civil service, judiciary, police, elections commission or anti-corruption agency were seriously compromised by executive interference and usurpation.
Any Najib apology?
Perhaps we should give the Prime Minister an opportunity to enumerate the past BN mistakes for which he is extending an apology and undertaking not to repeat them, so that Malaysians can conclude whether Najib’s apology is genuine and sincere or otherwise.
#1 by monsterball on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 1:34 pm
Apology without actions..not accepted.
It’s pure nonsense.
#2 by k1980 on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 1:47 pm
http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/no-need-to-bring-up-bns-past-mistakes-says-muhyiddin/
the latest Umno surveys show that there could be a repeat of the Election 2008 results but with Pakatan Rakyat (PR) getting at least 87 federal seats, five more than in 2008.
#3 by Bigjoe on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 1:57 pm
He just awarded WCE to Europlus, Kidex and Cheras toll is being shifted further down and in the future, Tajuddin bail-out, etc. – same old corrupt behaviours and he then say he is sorry?
All it says is polls are definitely near and the lying and pretending just got even worst.
#4 by waterfrontcoolie on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 2:08 pm
In line with the similar onslaught on the intelligence of Malaysians, we have CSL branding DAP as the enunch of PAS. Let us look at the current scenario openly; in the eyes of the Chinese Community in particular and all Malaysians in general, DAP is definitely a few rungs abover MCA in many if not all respect. If DAP is considered Enunch, where would we place MCA then? At the level of being a Paid and Willing Prostitue? Over the past 30 plus years, the place of MCA has had been removed twice over in spite of the gact that it was a Partner in the Original Contract of independence. Even the so-called senior Ministry of Transport has been defanged to a level that it is an insult even to call it a Ministry. Anyone who has to deal MOT today will curse and swear at its inefficiency and its indifference to issues facing the nation. Though on second thought, indeed it is without respect nor dignity or even knowledge of those issues it is supposed to tackle! So here we have the President of MCA who has nothing to offer except swears and nonsense trying to belittle DAP who has at least taken its strong disapproval of making the nation into an Islamic State which indeed MCA had supported when Mathadir tried to hoodwink the world with his proclamation some years ago! It is obvious that MCA can not produce something comparable to what DAP has achieve in Penang. It s only offer was PKFZ and the Tourist Facebook venture. Even then as LGE asked why only MCA leaders were charged?? a damn pertinent question which he convenient turned into a racial one. This clearly shows that MCA has NOTHING to offer henceforth except rhetorics through the wastepaper called the STAR! CSL, it certainly looks that MCA’s days are numbered. You even ventured to help UMNO to reclaim Selangor; a reminder please. as most apolitical friends, or even some MCA membewrs, most likely ex-MCA have said, they are wondering if MCA itself can survive the next election.
It is obvious that MCA knew the real truth of the situation but trying to grab what you could from your big brother before the end of BN happens!
#5 by Godfather on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 2:50 pm
You folks need to be more magnanimous. I forgave Tajuddin, and wiped his slate clean. So now I expect you guys to forgive UMNO so that I can wipe the slate clean and start all over again. I mean the RM 100 billion plunder prior to 2009 mostly went to Mamakthir’s cronies and relatives, so please let me start all over again on the next RM100 billion. Lu tolong gua, gua tolong lu mah…..
#6 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 2:51 pm
When one asks the No. 1 to identify specifically the past BN mistakes for which he apologized for BN, the No. 2 was quick to respond with “no need to bring up BN’s past mistakes” (see TheMalaysiaInsider Melissa Chi’s report of March 04, 2012). However if one does not specify which mistake is apologized for, how could one to whom the apology is given know for sure that the apologizer has identified correctly his party/coalition’s actual mistakes? It is trite that if one is mistaken about what one has actually done wrong in the past that requires remedy, there can be no satisfactory rectification/remedy of the real mistake which will be perpetuated. Being “contrite” as evinced by an apology cannot by mere verbalisation of a blanket apology be tested as to its sincerity. And, alternatively, even if benefit of doubt were to be given to the apologizer that he is sincere, such an apology serves no purpose if the actual mistakes keep being repeated by reason of the contrite not knowing what his real mistakes were, thus resulting in the apology offering no redress and succorance (as it was originally intended) to those aggrieved by the mistakes!
#7 by Jeffrey on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 3:15 pm
The mistakes of BN are multifaceted & multidisciplinary – and legendary – and may fill a book but for simplicity & brevity of discussion let’s just content with the one recently “spoken” by the Oracle himself (as reported). According to TheMalaysianInsider report by Shazwan Mustafa Kamal of 4-03-2012 Tun Daim Zainuddin told Mingguan Malaysia – “Malays cannot be united under any policy that can be deemed “exclusive…For Malays to unite it must not involve a policy which can be seen as exclusive…Malays must unite to fight corruption wastage mismanagement and agree to punish those who flout the law ”. Now are the race specific ‘Ketuanan’ policies of UMNO – and its tacit acquiescence to Perkasa’s activities- a mistake according to this political Oracle? I think it sounds like it is i a mistake spanning all of BN’s administrations. However what is more important is whether apologizer Ah Jib Gor is prepared to nail down specifics and admit that the exclusive communal raison de etre of UMNo, and also other race based parties like MCA & MIC within BN a mistake (requiring remedy)? I can see the dilemma/stress here: if he admits it’s a mistake then he is admitting the whole communal substratum of BN is built on wrong foundation, and that its rival, PR’s foundation (ie fighting corruption wastage mismanagement) is more attuned to felt needs of present day Malaysia. If he admits that, then it will be further asked, “what are you doing about NFC scandal and Tajudin/MAS/GLC’s settlement?” Now is that why Muhyiddin advises, in relation to the apology, no need to bring up BN’s past mistakes?
#8 by sotong on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 4:54 pm
If you want a real and effective change…..change the government and leaders for a new and fresh start to take proper care of the country.
Be prepared to do the dirty jobs of cleaning up the mess left by the previous administration.
#9 by sotong on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 5:01 pm
If not for the great contribution of hard working and peace loving ordinary people….imagine what impact these ” mistake ” will have on the country?
#10 by jus legitimum on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 5:11 pm
He is like a child making an apology for a mistake he has just made but will soon forget the apology and repeat the mistake.It is sheer hypocrisy.
#11 by Godfather on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 5:17 pm
Moo says what’s past is past. Don’t bring up the issue of RM 100 billion leaving our shores. It’s gone. Just concentrate on extracting the next RM 100 billion.
#12 by Godfather on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 7:07 pm
You know how humble these UMNO guys are ? Moo says that his boss has demonstrated humility through the apology. I bet you that this wasn’t their prayers at the mosque.
#13 by undertaker888 on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 7:59 pm
Najib is practicing mahajahil’s crocodile tears. Ya trying to fool us again this goon. You can apologize until the cows come home, we will not buy it. We are just plain tired of umno and bn’s arrogance and corruption all these years. Enough is enough.
Go apologize to God. Only him can help you now.
#14 by mm08 on Sunday, 4 March 2012 - 10:06 pm
Apology accepted but damaged done! How is he going to save all the damaged that he had done? In addition, he knew he is wrong but keep on doing the wrong thing again and again. I am now in doubt of his sincerity of apologizing. Another drama? Too much of damage and mistakes had been done. Before the GE,what he can do to reverse all these? A long list of them,e.g. Lynas case, NFC case, Jalan Sultan case and many many more…we are waiting !
#15 by SENGLANG on Monday, 5 March 2012 - 9:24 am
Do you believe when a cat say apology to a mouse.
This is exactly what it has happened.
If one is sincere there is no need apology just DO IT! And NOT just TALK!