Stink of hypocrisy in Najib’s talk of principles

'It's clear that Muhyiddin was not a yes man. Why then was he removed from the Cabinet?

COMMENT

By A Xavier Jayakumar

I read with much amusement a report of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s address to his party members recently. He basically claimed that he was not a party president who wanted all Umno leaders to be his “yes men”.

“But I am a president who wants our party to be disciplined, to hold on to party principles,” Bernama quoted him as saying

“We can change our views or argue in a meeting; if we want to bang the table we can also do so, just do not throw the chairs. But when the party makes a decision, we have to stand behind the collective responsibility.”

The Prime Minister said that even though party leaders and members might disagree over a certain matter that had been decided, it could be renegotiated.

“I am not an autocratic person,” he said. “Ask Ku Nan (Tengku Adnan Mansor). He also disagrees sometimes, but he remains as secretary-general.”

I am inclined to ask what he means by his statements. This is because the recent cabinet reshufflle saw Najib ousting his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

It is known that Muhyiddin has been critical of Najib’s decisions and had questioned the controversial national investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd, so much so that the Prime Minister’s Office chided him for his outspokenness in the days leading to his ouster.

It is clear that Muhyiddin was not a yes man. Why then was he removed from the Cabinet ?

On the contrary, the newly appointed Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak, has been supportive of Najib in the 1MDB issue right from the get go. He has been tireless in typing out his views and publishing them on his blog.

Lo and behold, Salleh was appointed minister.

I am not privy to Umno meetings chaired by Najib or any other Umno meeting for that matter. However this still smells strongly of hypocrisy.

Despite Muhyiddin’s disagreement over the matter, was the issue renegotiated to the point he had to lose his cabinet post? Or did Muhyiddin ask the wrong questions, which cost him and his allies their cabinet posts?

Financial transparency

The issue of RM2.6 billion in Najib’s account has been taken out of context by the Umno President himself. When details were released that the money was donated anonymously by someone from the Middle East for party expenditures, Najib was quick to turn the tables against the opposition parties.

He stated his willingness to reveal Umno’s accounts and challenged PKR, DAP and PAS to do the same. While each party has responded promptly, with PKR Deputy President Mohamed Azmin Ali and Selangor DAP Chairman Tony Pua stating their respective parties’ willingness to do so, it is amusing to note that the controversial donation was unknown to many Umno members.

The disclosure by Muhyiddin and Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal that they too were clueless about the donation has exposed the Prime Minister to more scrutiny.

While PKR welcomes Najib’s call to be transparent about Umno’s account, perhaps he as a leader should heed his own call by being transparent about his personal bank accounts.

After all, it was his personal account in Ambank that was exposed by the Wall Street Journal and not Umno’s accounts. Answer the questions that has long played in the the minds of the rakyat, including your No 2 in the party. The ball is in your court, Prime Minister

Dr A Xavier Jayakumar is a vice-president of PKR.