Najib a great contrarian and absentee PM, says Kit Siang

DAP leader says Najib Razak is in denial about the country’s crumbling economy including its brittle race and religious relations.

PETALING JAYA: In a scathing review of the performance of prime minister Najib Razak, DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang compared him to the nation’s first three leaders, saying Najib’s lacklustre leadership had earned him the labels “Great Contrarian” and “Absentee Prime Minister”.

In a statement, Lim said, “Under the first three Prime Ministers, Malaysia’s foundation as a tolerant, open, liberal, democratic, multi-racial, multi-religious and secular nation with Islam as the religion of the Federation, was never doubted, questioned or challenged.”

He said this was the basis of the 20-point Sabah and 18-point Sarawak Agreement when Malaysia was formed in 1963.

“… but things began to go awry after 2001”

Echoing the words of the Yang di Pertuan Agong who commented recently that he was gravely concerned over the “brittle” race and religious relations in the country today, Lim said Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn “would have taken positive and pro-active measures to address concerns” unlike Najib who preferred to stand and watch on the sidelines.

Lim explained that he called Najib the Great Contrarian, because the PM always had an opinion contrary to what others were saying and in so doing continued to deny the country was economically in shambles and that race and religious relations had reached dangerous levels.

“The first three Prime Ministers … would have been horrified by the blasphemous claims of the political charlatans, bigots and extremists of today who are claiming to cloak their rhetoric and politics of hatred, fear, intolerance, bigotry and extremism under the banner of moderation!”

Saying he was sure the trio would have made a “swift and immediate response” to the 25 Eminent Malays, he asked, “Can we expect the present Prime Minister to show similar qualities as the first three Prime Ministers and to have a meeting with the 25 Eminent Malays before he embarks on another international junket in keeping with his reputation as “Absentee Prime Minister”?

Earlier Lim outlined the tough challenges the people were put through last year, describing 2014 as having been “bedevilled by a host of disasters and misfortunes” that included three air crashes, catastrophic floods, the 1MDB scandal, the Royal Commission of Inquiry report on illegal immigrants and falling crude oil prices.

Saying it was “most sad and tragic” that Najib and his Cabinet did not seem to understand the grave concerns expressed by the Agong, Lim added that it was up to Malaysians to hold on to the legacy of Tunku Abdul Rahman as well, who, if he was still alive, would be 112 this February 8.

In a sombre tone, Lim said, “Let Malaysians remember Tunku’s legacy of moderation in a meaningful way to help ensure that Malaysia will forever be a land for moderates with no place for the bigots or extremists of any ilk.”