Colourful leader who tells it like it is

Of all the Cabinet members today, he is the most colourful and interesting. His list of controversies is long, including his famous run-in with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Nazri called the former Prime Minister a “bloody racist” for supporting a government programme said to promote racist thinking in civil servants and public university undergraduates.

The Star Editorial

MAVERICK. Non-conformist. Indepen­dent-minded. Arrogant. Eccentric. All these words have been used to describe Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Of all the Cabinet members today, he is the most colourful and interesting. His list of controversies is long, including his famous run-in with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Nazri called the former Prime Minister a “bloody racist” for supporting a government programme said to promote racist thinking in civil servants and public university undergraduates.

At present, he is entangled in another controversy for appointing his son Nedim as a special officer in his office.

When criticised, pro-Umno bloggers included, Nazri hit right back, calling his detractors “stupid” and said he was rich enough to pay Nedim himself. He was quoted as saying that his son was carrying out youth activities in his Padang Rengas constituency and that “I can call him errand boy or office boy, if that would please people. I am paying him, not the Government”.

Yet, no matter how one sees it, Nedim’s appointment has led to allegations of nepotism and questions over the kind of access this unofficial officer will have to ministerial documents and information.

While others have come to his defence and according to a source close to the family, his action is simply that of a father who wants to instil responsibility in his child, Nazri must address such concerns.

Perhaps the problem with Nazri is that he was too open and honest about the appointment. Perhaps he thought that by being transparent, it shows he has nothing to hide.

For all his eccentricities, including describing himself (with a touch of humour, we believe) as rich, powerful, good-looking and a celebrity equal to Hollywood star power, Nazri is quite a simple man. He simply tells it like it is and is not one to sidestep issues.

Despite his “fighter cock” reputation, former Sabah Umno Youth leader Datuk Jema Khan, who has crossed swords with him, said Nazri is a true nationalist. “By this I mean that he would protect this country even from itself, in that he would certainly disavow any possible sectarian violence. I am certain that he is liberal in the sense of not wanting to infringe on anyone’s civil liberties,” said Jema.

True enough, Nazri is the only high-ranking Umno minister who has openly taken on racist groups like Perkasa.

In supporting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept, Nazri declared in 2010, “I am a Malaysian first and Malay next.”

Not only that, he threw the challenge: “Does any bigot have a problem with that?”, in reference to Perkasa’s criticism of him.

In his typically forthright manner, he also waded into the controversial attempt by Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron to close the night market at a tourist spot and open it to traffic.

“The name is ‘Jonker Walk’ … for pedestrians to walk on and not be limited to sidewalks. It is not Jonker Drive,” Nazri had quipped.

In the recent issue in Johor where a surau was used by Buddhists to pray, Nazri’s view was “What is so bad that it needs to be demolished?”, pointing out that the chief monk of Buddhist Maha Vihara and chief high priest of Malaysia Venerable Datuk K. Sri Dhammaratana Maha Thera had apologised to Muslims.

“So let’s move on. We are all human,” said Nazri.

In such contentious and sensitive times, it is a comfort that we still have leaders who are truly and consistently multiracial at heart and critics be damned.