In the US, Najib can't help but take a dig at 'dictator ex-PM'

It seems Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak could not help but take a dig at his number one critic and predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his trip to the United States.

In his speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington DC yesterday, Najib cited various controversial actions taken by Mahathir when he was prime minister.

While he did not mention Mahathir by name, the reference to Mahathir's admission that he was once a "dictator" was not lost.

"Now it is true that one of the Malaysian opposition’s leaders has admitted that he was a 'dictator' when he was in power.

"When he was prime minister, hundreds of people were summarily locked up under the Internal Security Act. Newspapers, including a major national daily, were closed.

"The judiciary was emasculated. Crony capitalism was rife, with deals made that significantly burden ordinary Malaysians today," Najib said.

He also pointed out how the people then had no right to demonstrate, while students were not allowed to participate in politics.

Despite all these, Najib noted how Malaysia's democracy "survived and strengthened" under his government. The ISA was repealed and the State of Emergency was also ended, he said.

"These were major steps that required great political courage – but we went forward with them because removing these outdated and repressive pieces of legislation was the right thing to do," he said.

Najib pointed out how media freedom was introduced by scrapping restrictions on newspaper publishing licences and the Universities and University Colleges Act to allow undergraduates to participate in political activities.

'We passed the law on peaceful protest'

"Large demonstrations, that would never have been allowed under the former leader, have taken place in Kuala Lumpur over the last few years.

"Why? Because we passed the Peaceful Assembly Act, for the first time enshrining in law the right to peaceful protest – which we recognise as being part of a democratic society."

Affirming Malaysia's commitment to democracy and free speech, Najib also refuted an article that said Malaysia was in danger of sliding into dictatorship.

"That really is preposterous!"

Malaysia, he insisted, has been a democracy ever since independence.

Claiming that elections are fiercely contested, Najib pointed out how the opposition won five states in the 2008 general election.

"Cabinet ministers and prominent politicians have lost their seats in elections. I myself only just retained my parliamentary constituency in 1999.

"There were particular reasons why the government was not popular at that time; but my point is that ours is a genuine democracy and no one is guaranteed election, no matter how high their position.

"It is the people who have the final say – which is how it should be in a democracy."

Najib also denied claims that the government jails its critics, pointing out how ministers and state chief ministers from both sides of the political divide have been taken to court, which he said, showed the impartiality of the judiciary.

"And it is the judges – certainly not the government – who then decide if jail is appropriate.

"If an opposition politician breaks the law, he may well be arrested, yes. But not for being a critic."

Noting that the opposition had tried to make out that free speech in Malaysia was under threat, Najib went on to claim that praise can be found for opposition politicians in national newspapers while vigorous debate, including plenty of criticism of the government, are published on web portals.

"There is one well-known academic who, ever since he came back to our country to take up a chair funded by the Noah Foundation – set up by my own grandfather – has taken every opportunity to attack me and my policies, from our participation in the TPP, to the administration of welfare payments, to foreign investment in Malaysia.

"He is at perfect liberty to do so, as are others - however much I and my colleagues may think they are wrong. Why? Because we believe in, and we practise, free speech in Malaysia." -Mkini