Najib praised as worthy opposition man

An analyst notes that he responds to criticism with facts instead of rhetoric.

PETALING JAYA: A political analyst has commended former prime minister Najib Razak for using facts and figures instead of political rhetoric to defend himself against allegations of power abuse.

Speaking to FMT, Kamarul Zaman Yusoff of the Malaysian Islamic Strategic Research Institute said Najib’s recent statements made him appear more worthy than any of the current Umno leaders of assuming leadership of the opposition.

He said other Umno figures, including its acting president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, seemed too stupefied to respond to Pakatan Harapan’s rhetoric against the previous government.

He surmised that Najib was listening to a new team of advisers, noting that “he is taking on the government with facts and figures and with less rhetoric” when issuing statements on Malaysia’s debt and the 1MDB issue.“Perhaps they are still in shock over the GE14 results and perhaps it will take time for them to assume their role as opposition figures,” he said.

He added, however, that most members of the public were unlikely to listen seriously to the former prime minister and people closely associated with him.

“It’s too late for them,” he said, “but perhaps not for (Umno Youth chief) Khairy Jamaluddin, because of his more positive image and because he isn’t associated closely with Najib.”

Another analyst, Awang Azman Pawi of Universiti Malaya, said Umno and BN had much work to do to show they could be a respectable opposition.

“If they do not learn how to become an efficient opposition, it will be difficult for them to rise again,” he said. -FMT