Saravanan, why didn’t you tell Najib he was a problem?

 

From Clement Stanley

M Saravanan, the MIC deputy president, now says that Barisan Nasional (BN) might have won in 2018 without former prime minister Najib Razak.

Among the reasons Saravanan mentioned were the former prime minister’s image, the 1MDB scandal and issues relating to the goods and services tax (GST).

Saravanan seems to think that had Najib sat out GE14, BN would still be in power. If only he had expressed these sentiments to Najib before the general election then!

After all, he would have had direct access to Najib at different stages and at different times. He could have done it during a BN meeting. He could have suggested it while he was the deputy youth and sports minister and Najib was the prime minister.

He could have told him when Najib attended the MIC Congress yearly. But he didn’t. And yet, it wasn’t that long ago when his then party president Dr S Subramaniam and himself happily heaped garland after garland on Najib when Najib dropped by at Batu Caves for Thaipusam or attended the MIC open house Deepavali celebrations.

MIC, like all the other BN component parties, said nothing against Najib leading the charge in 2018, knowing very well that the 1MDB scandal was going to be exploited to the maximum by the opposition. It was cannon fodder. It was going to explode in the face of BN.

There was no better evidence of its seriousness and impact on BN than when Muhyiddin Yassin and Shafie Apdal were sacked from the Cabinet for raising questions about 1MDB.

Since Muhyiddin and Shafie were made examples of, I wonder if that would have been reason enough to say “no more”?

Unfortunately, this is where Saravanan and MIC got it terribly wrong. You were prepared to go along with what was unfolding right before your eyes.

If MIC was unhappy with the situation, you should have said something about it publicly.

Then, the Indian community might have thrown its lot behind you in 2018, knowing very well that you stood up for the good of the nation. That you stood up for justice.

That you stood up for your principles.

You would have been your own person, brave and courageous.

At the very least, you were in a position to stand united with Muhyiddin and Shafie if you felt Najib was going to be a liability. But you didn’t. You just didn’t.

And now, you are singing a different tune and taking on a different stance and wishing to further rub salt into open wounds?

Don’t do that, please. He was your chosen leader at that time. He carried MIC on his shoulders and gave your community generous financial help and assistance. The least you should do is to be thankful for it.

This is the most unpleasant and annoying characteristic of the current crop of politicians. They simply fall short on integrity and principles. While not a fan of Najib, in life one should never ever put a man down when he has already reached the bottom.

If MIC were to do better than 2018 in this election, then the party might have just about turned the corner. But if it doesn’t, let’s hope MIC won’t blame Umno president and BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for it.

MIC should know about Zahid’s image and the court cases that are before him. The fate of Najib and Zahid are very much entwined. Like it or not, you already know what is to come. - FMT

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader .

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.