Zam ‘praises’ NST for exposing Tunku Aziz as turncoat

Former Utusan editor says spirit of nationalism still alive in paper despite Umno control

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno-controlled New Straits Times won backhanded praise today from former Utusan Malaysia chief editor Zainuddin Maidin for reminding its readers that Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, who has called for an investigation into Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was a former DAP member.

Zainuddin, who has supported Dr Mahathir in his campaign of criticism against Umno president and prime minister Najib Razak, said the NST’s description of Tunku Abdul Aziz as “former DAP vice-chairman” immediately demolished Tunku Aziz’s credibility and authority in defending Najib.

Writing in his blog today, Zainuddin made a sharp personal attack on Tunku Aziz, once a diplomat and head of Transparency International and now a member of the advisory board of the anti-corruption agency MACC.

Zam thanked the NST journalist for phrasing the introductory paragraph to remind readers of Tunku Aziz’s political foray into the DAP, and said the “intro” was a reminder that a Malay prince of the Kedah royal house had a black mark by joining a Chinese chauvinist party intent on destroying Malay power and Umno-Barisan Nasional control.

Tunku Aziz had called for the reopening of the investigations into past financial scandals during Dr Mahathir’s government, in which by some accounts as much as RM100 billion had been lost, squandered or wasted through leaks or corruption. On Saturday a new citizens’ group announced a RM1 million bounty for information about Dr Mahathir’s purported hidden wealth amounting to as much as US$44bn.

These developments have been seen as part of a counter-offensive by supporters of Najib against Dr Mahathir’s incessant attacks on the troubled government-owned investment company 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

Zainudddin said he was glad to note that there were still NST journalists with nationalist leanings, despite Umno patronage and control by the communications unit of the PM’s Department.

He warned them that they might be labelled as “subversive elements” within NST and might be hauled up by the editor-in-chief, but praised their good intentions and their effort, though small, in warning readers no to trust opportunists trying to make use of the current situation.