'PM Najib skipping UN meet again highlights 1MDB's damage'

Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong has expressed concern about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's ability to function internationally due to the 1MDB scandal.

This was after Najib skipped the United Nations General Assembly for the second year in a row.

"Due to the global infamy of the 1MDB scandal, Najib has been avoiding international media and attention like a plague.

"He could not appear with pride and dignity on the world stage anymore.

"And Najib’s inability to function internationally without being scrutinised on the 1MDB scandal has hindered Malaysia’s regional leadership potential at a time when it is most needed," the DAP lawmaker said in a statement.

Najib had earlier this month visited the United States for a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House.

No press conference was held following the meeting, amidst expectations that Najib would be grilled by the US media over the 1MDB scandal, which is being investigated by multiple jurisdictions, including the US.

'A great mystery'

Liew said it was a "great mystery" for Najib to skip the UN sessions in the US as he was already in the country.

"Southeast Asia is faced with the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and Asia faces challenges from a recalcitrant North Korea, as well as terrorism in the region and beyond.

"These are significant issues which Najib should spend time explaining Malaysia’s position to the world at the UN General Assembly.

"Malaysia is a significant ‘middle power’ that influences events on the world stage, despite not being big in population size or economy.

"But under Najib, foreign policies, just as domestic policies, have become highly transactional and can be summed up with his favourite adage 'Cash is King'," Liew said.

The UN General Assembly is taking place from Sept 19 to 25 in New York City.

Najib did not extend his stay in the US and returned to Malaysia after a brief stopover in the UK to meet the country's Prime Minister Theresa May.

Foreign Minister Anifah Aman represented Malaysia at UN the gathering.

Last year, Malaysia was represented at the UN General Assembly by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.- Mkini