MO1 hunts with hounds and runs with hares

YOURSAY | ‘Where were you when the nation needed your leadership?’

Laundrette owner's apology should be well-received, says Najib

Worried Sick: I would have been very impressed if our PM had pre-empted His Majesty the Sultan of Johor. Then he would have shown all of us what he meant when he implored upon us to be united.

Now he looked foolish coming out with the statement saying that the apology of the owner of the launderette would be well-received by Malaysians.

The owner himself was not really remorseful by saying that what he was doing (restricting his laundrette to Muslims only) was being a “good Muslim” and so on. His Majesty has debunked him on the tenets of Islam through and through.

The PM missed a golden opportunity to show the people that he is indeed what he claims to be.

Anonymous 535441504891363: Only after a condemnation from a brother, an appalment from a prince and an angry scolding from a sultan did the PM, who was supposed to champion moderation, speak up.

This shows a lot about the leadership (if there is any) of this hypocritical kleptocrat.

SusahKes: So Mr Nothing to Hide decides to step out of his cocoon, and make a comment about the ongoing despair in Malaysia.

Seriously, where were you when the nation needed your leadership? I’m basing my question on the presumption that you might just have a tad or two leadership bone inside you.

FellowMalaysian: PM Najib Razak, whatever you may have to say about this entrepreneur with his enterprising talent, it comes only as second-hand news to us for you took a whole week for the issue to boil and simmer before speaking up.

And this came only after Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar made a strong reproach over, and expressed his displeasure against, this entrepreneur's action.

If you shared the concern that this man's action would lead to a “narrow image of Islam”, it is rather unfortunate that we, the rakyat, are caught unaware and dumbfounded by your generosity and fervent care.

You could not have faulted us either for behaving so as your Johnny-come-lately response sounded rather hollow and disingenuous.

Though you may strenuously disagree, your actions are in fact inimical to the foundational fundamentals of the free people in this country.

Kangkung: Malaysian Official 1 (MO1), you are a joke. When news about the laundrette issue went viral, you kept quiet.

Only now you are suddenly so brave. It looks like the whole country is running on 'auto-mode'.

Good Friend: PM, since when have you demonstrated your courage and leadership quality? Would you have the courage to comment if His Majesty had not commented on this nonsensical act by this misguided man?

Clever Voter: Najib’s wait-and-see attitude is unbecoming and unacceptable. It's embarrassing, to say the least.

There goes the chance of him claiming to be the global leader of the moderates. He acted because he has no choice. The opportunity came and has gone. The public is unimpressed.

6th Generation Immigrant: It looks like our PM is an ‘after the fact’ hero and one with false courage. He showed courage to speak out after true heroes have spoken - the Johor Sultan and Suhakam chairperson.

Many other such stupidities have been happening under the PM's watch. He should, in fact, be the first one, and immediately too, to tell off such stupidities.

He didn't, his inner-circle ministers didn't and in fact, no one from Umno did. Were they afraid of hurting PAS feelings or were they actually trying to politically capitalise on such stupidity?

Najib can't have the cake and eat it. Has the PM commented on the fines imposed for a man wearing shorts in Kelantan or is he waiting on another boost in courage?

FairMind: This belated statement from Najib showed the Johor Sultan as a decisive leader who is loved by the public and he, Najib, a weak leader despised by Malaysians.

Vent: Indeed, where were you, Najib, when another of Malaysia's mad mullahs nearly ran amok with his Islamic-inspired laundry services?

I guess you were hoping to gather the faithful to his side of the washing machine in time for the elections?

So, you were hoping to hunt with the Muslim hounds until the sultan called your bluff? His Majesty has left you shamefaced, and thus you have now decided to run with the Malaysian hares instead.

Caripasal: A leader is elected to lead, not to hide. Indeed, where was Najib before the ultimatum issued by the Johor sultan? This opportunist only dared to speak after the dust has settled.

David Dass: The owner's apology is accepted. But the issue of rising extremism must be addressed in a more comprehensive way.

Influences from Saudi Arabia cannot dictate the way we are. Saudi Arabia is a feudal fiefdom where one family rules. They have no experience of democracy.

It was only last week that a decision was made allowing women to drive there. They have no experience of diverse cultures and diverse beliefs. All non-Muslim religions are prohibited in Saudi Arabia.

Here we have periodic elections. Freedom of worship is guaranteed. As are equality of all citizens. Malaysians generally respect the religious beliefs and sensitivities of one another.

Our beliefs may be different. But we respect goodness and the spirituality of people of all faiths.

Allforit: Let's ponder over the issue. Has anyone checked where the washing machines in the Muslim-only laundrette were made?

Made in China or South Korea? So were they "halal" in the first place?- Mkini