When I read of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech yesterday on the importance of loyalty at a function of 13 uniformed services, I am reminded of United States President Donald Trump’s demand for loyalty from the former FBI Director, James Comey, whom he subsequently sacked.
Malaysians should owe loyalty to the nation, not to any individual, regardless of whether right or wrong – as the latter is the worst form of disloyalty to the nation, subordinating national interests to “loyalty” to any one person!
Today, Najib reminded social media users to spread positive news about the country and not negative ones and that they should use their influence to help instil a love for the nation.
I cannot agree more with the Prime Minister and nothing is more hurting to loyal and patriotic Malaysians than to see the country regarded in a very poor light by the international community.
This is a problem that must be addressed by the Prime Minister and the government.
There is no doubt that the one single issue which has most damaged Malaysia’s good name and reputation in the world community is the international multi-billion ringgit 1MDB money-laundering scandal, which has resulted in Malaysia’s infamy and ignominy of being regarded worldwide as a “global kleptocracy”.
We cannot continue to pretend that the 1MDB scandal and Malaysia’s international infamy and ignominy as a “global kleptocracy” do not exist, when Malaysia continues to dominate in the world headlines with periodic developments on the 1MDB scandal in various countries and jurisdictions where there is ongoing criminal investigations and civil litigation connected with the 1MDB scandal.
Today, for instance, there is the report of US Department of Justice (DOJ) action to seize London properties linked to 1MDB fund.
Wall Street Journal’s latest expose of the 1MDB scandal reports on how “controversial businessman”, Jho Low, bought a penthouse, an office building and another flat, all located in the upmarket Mayfair district in London using £77 million (RM416 million at current rates) from 1MDB.
In the past week, Malaysia was convulsed by reports that the Najib had paid RM9.5 million to lawyer Tan Sri Shafie Abdullah for the latter’s role as prosecutor in Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s Sodomy II case at the Court of Appeal and Federal Court, and that the monies came from Najib’s private bank account related to the 1MDB scandal. Up to now, although it is close to two weeks since the revelation of the payments, the Prime Minister has not broken his thunderous silence!
The first step to ensure positive news for Malaysia, especially in the social media, is to purge and cleanse Malaysia’s of the infamy and ignominy of being regarded worldwide as a “global kleptocracy”, projecting the image that Malaysia’s national leaders are not only unable to differentiate right from wrong, but have lost all sense of “shame”.
Will Najib take the first step to clear Malaysia’s of the ignominy and infamy as a “global kleptocracy” – which will be the greatest gift to all Malaysians in this month of Ramadan?
(Speech at the DAP Kopitiam dialogue at Pagoh, Johor on Tuesday, 13th June 2017 at 3 pm)