Low ASB dividend another chance to blame Mahathir

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak probably thinks that it’s easier to blame former Prime Minister Mahathir for everything that goes wrong with his administration, says Shahbudin Husin.

KUALA LUMPUR: A political analyst, in taking note of the “phenomenon” that everything that’s wrong with the Najib administration was the fault of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, wonders whether he would be blamed as well for Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) announcing low dividends and bonuses this time. “Would it have been better had Mahathir not mooted ASB?”

“In that case, we won’t be looking at high and low dividends and bonuses or making comparisons over the years.”

The analyst Shahbudin Husin, continuing in the same vein, pointed out that the toll agreements and the ERL were made during Mahathir’s time and their effects on the rising cost of living were clearly visible. Hence, the reading that it would be easier for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his supporters to blame the former Prime Minister. In short, the toll agreements and ERL were structured in such a way that Najib isn’t able to do a rethink to reduce their impact on the cost of living.

Shahbudin was commenting on ASB announcing its dividends and bonuses rather late this year, compared with previous years, and coming out with comparatively low dividends of 7.5 sen per 0.50 sen unit. “This is the lowest since 1990,” he added.

The arguments against Proton are also anti-Mahathir, said the analyst. He doesn’t delve into the details, since the facts “plaguing” the local motor industry are well-known.