Transparency call to Muslim nations: Najib told to explain Kazakh expenses first

As the squall over his alleged abuse of travelling benefits reached a glass-shattering crescendo back home, Prime Minister Najib Razak donned his thickest skin and sallied forth to talk about openness, honesty and transparency at the World Economic Islamic Forum.

The WEIF, held in Kazakhstan a day ago, became famous in Malaysia after a sizzling series of Twitter exchanges between UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin and PAS MP for Kuala Selangor Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Dzulkefly had accused Najib and wife Rosmah of moral impropriety and misusing an official visit to Kazakhstan to attend their daughter's engagement to a powerful Kazakh official. The first couple had allegedly gone with a large entourage in tow, all or substantially at the expense of Malaysian taxpayers.

Upset, the sensitive Khairy hit back at Dzulkefly for "despicable lies". That prompted the PAS leader to reveal that Khairy was also part of the entourage of alleged freeloaders, and had tweeted his messages from the WEIF where he was also a participant.

"Those who eat chilli will feel the heat," Dzulkefly told Malaysia Chronicle.

Nonetheless, determined to make an impact on the Islamic world, Najib turned a deaf ear on the squabbling duo - telling distinguished guests at the forum that universal good qualities should come naturally to Muslims and Muslim nations.

Immediately, his critics at home leapt up to pour scorn on him.

Closed-door

Foremost on their list was the Malaysian Consumer Price Index, the methodology for which has long baffled economists. In April, the central bank reported inflation was 3.2 per cent from a year ago. In March, it had been 3.0 percent.

But ask the man on the street, and they will tell that prices have shot up by at least half, if not doubled. Yet salaries have stayed stagnant, and because of this, traders have been forced to reduce both quality and quantity or lose customers totally.

"It is not that we are opposition and he is government. But Najib must ask himself before he talks in a Muslim context, does he himself practise openness, honesty and transparency," Kuala Krai MP Hatta Ramli told Malaysia Chronicle.

"Even for his trip to Kazakhstan, there is argument over his daughter's engagement. When he comes home, will he live up to his words at the WEIF? Will he account for his expenses for the trip?"

Then there was the Foreign Direct Investment or FDI. In 2010, this amounted to US$7 billion according to the World Investment Report, but Najib insisted it was US$9 billion. Urged to clarify which was the correct number, he declined. This despite the request being made in Parliament, the highest body in the nation.

"Maybe he does not want to confirm it is US$7 billion because that would attract comparison with the US$6.8 billion Thailand drew in the same year despite all their political turmoil and airport closures," MP for Selayang William Leong told Malaysia Chronicle.

In 2009, FDI had plunged 81 per cent to US$1.38 billion from US$7.32 billion in 2008 - a sign of wavering investor confidence in the Najib administration.

Dishonest

As for the latest Transparency Index, Malaysia has been on a slippery slope, sliding from 4.5 to 4.4 although the ranking still remains at 56 out of 178 countries. Incidentally, the lower or smaller the number, the more corrupt the nation. This means, Malaysia is the 56th most corrupt nation in a survey of 178 nations of the world.

Then there is the sinister "illicit outflow" of funds. Who has been secretly taking money out of the country?

Sad to say the answer has not been discovered yet, because Najib and his advisers have refused to allow a probe into the issue. According the Global Financial Integrity - an internationally-renowned corruption watchdog body - at least US$291 billion or RM888 billion was siphoned out during the years 2000 to 2009.

More cases of corruption were also pointed out by Malaysia's own Auditor-General, who stated in his 2010 report that an amount of not less than RM28 billion was lost due to wastage and graft.

Opaque

But the most compelling and current example must surely be the contracts signed between the government-controlled Tenaga Nasional Bhd and the Independent Power Producers, many of which are helmed by tycoons with close ties to Najib's UMNO party.

Although lopsided agreements in favour of the IPPs, Najib has refused to declassify the contracts or to renegotiate them. This means that the public will be forced to pay exorbitant price hikes for electricity. One June 1, the Malaysian PM jacked up power tariffs and more are expected in the coming months.

"In Islam, transparency is very important and so is social justice. I don't see that in the Najib administration at all," Dzulkefly told Malaysia Chronicle.

Indeed, in Islamic Governance, the government is only the steward of a nation. It does not and should never give the impression that it owns the nation.

"You 'tanggung' (or bear responsibility) and then you 'jawab' (or answer) which means you will be responsible for it and then you will be answerable for it. Thus to 'melaksanakan tanggungjawab' means you have to fulfill your responsibility because you will be held accountable and have to answer for it on Judgement Day," explained PAS vice president Husam Musa told Malaysia Chronicle.

- Malaysia Chronicle