PM regrets dialogue format was changed to open forum

Najib says it was not proper to debate Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also from the same party, before the general public.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has taken to his blog to express regret that the Nothing2Hide Forum last Friday, which he didn’t mention by name, was not the original plan, and had therefore to be aborted including on security grounds.

It was unfortunate that the format of the dialogue changed into an Open Forum which would have pitted him against former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, he added.

“As Prime Minister, it was not proper that I should debate with the former Prime Minister, who is also from the same party, in this manner before the general public,” he said. “It will not bring any benefit to Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN).”

As Prime Minister, he stressed, he had the duty and responsibility to uphold the good name of the party and the government. “Mahathir can ask me whatever he wants to know and I am willing to explain to him.”

“I am doing this to explain where he raises legitimate questions.”

He expressed regret that it had not been possible to proceed with the original plan to meet with the NGOs and have a dialogue with them. “However, I intend to continue to convey information in a dignified manner.”

“This includes accepting invitations from the NGOs and I will meet with them soon.”

He was revisiting the aborted Forum last Friday and disclosed that he had in fact accepted an invitation on May 19 to meet with NGOs, for a dialogue on current issues – The PM’s Dialogue with NGOs – being sponsored by SukaGuam and JASA.

“This dialogue, among others would have discussed Mahathir’s allegation that 1MDB’s RM42 billion was missing.”

He mentioned in passing that 1MDB had since repaid a RM3.6 billion loan and was seeking to reduce its debts further under a rationalisation plan worked out with the Ministry of Finance.