Friday Oct. 27, 2017 is a watershed day for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, as he will be tabling the 2018 Budget as his “ultra weapon” for winning the 14th General Election.
Today, as a prelude to his 2018 Budget on Friday, Najib released his “My Economic Vision for Malaysia”, where he boasted about his accomplishments and achievements in his more than seven years as Prime Minister.
What will history and future generations remember about Najib’s premiership?
There will several candidates, like the worst racial and religious polarization in the nation’s 60 year history; the rise of extremism, intolerance and bigotry in a country whose special characteristics is her diversity of races, religions, languages and cultures and whose survival and progress must depend on the qualities of moderation, openness, tolerance and inclusiveness; the worst decline in educational standards; etc.
But the foremost claimant to be Najib’s chief legacy will undoubtedly be the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal which shot Malaysia into the stratosphere of infamy and ignominy in being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy.
I find it quite unbelievable that Najib has taken the offensive and instead of the charade pretending that 1MDB scandal does not exist, has gone on the attack by presenting the 1MDB as a “national saviour” for Malaysia, claiming that among its various virtues, it will save Malaysia RM200 billion over the next 20 years in solving the “lop-sided power agreements signed by a former leader”.
If 1MDB is such a “national saviour”, including saving RM200 billion over the next 20 years over the power agreements, why is it necessary for the Najib government to impose a clampdown on debate and national discourse of the issue in Parliament and the mainstream media?
Let there be a full debate on the 1MDB in Parliament for a start, instead of the Speaker rejecting questions by MPs on 1MDB and forbidding debate and discussion of the 1MDB scandal in Parliament.
(Speech at the DAP “Sayangi Malaysia, Hapuskan Kleptocrasi” Solidarity Dinner at Kampong Chempaka, Petaling Jaya on Tuesday, 24th October 2017 at 9 pm)