IT is embarrassing but I still have to reply as the harassment against me persists. To me, it is weird to demand a reply to something unnecessary which is public knowledge for 16 years, and it is even more peculiar that we are diverting attention from the main problem.
And I find it absurd that I have to prove how former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is a liar but I have no choice.
So here are my five points rebuttals to Najib’s attacks against me:
1. History serves as a mirror, Internet serves as record
The Internet today is a history book for tomorrow, as whatever we did and said would be recorded for time to come. To know the international reputation and image of a man to the world, just search any keyword like 1MDB and Jho Low. All the crimes related to them are recorded on news all over the world and was probed accordingly.
Justice has been served in many countries but Malaysia. I am sure this kind of reputation and image would not justify a man to represent Malaysia again on an international level.
Nobody can simply throw mud with the “Mirror of Internet”; type in your name and look at your own mirror before pointing fingers at others. Your wrongdoing cannot be simply erased.
As for my name, it has been associated as the founder and patron of the World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF) series. However, due to the Dec 27 incident, with critics coming from all over the world, it is only reasonable that I distance myself from it.
Maybe others do not feel embarrassed I feel it.
2. Cause and effect
‘Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan’, or belief in God, is the first principle in the Rukun Negara. We must have fear and belief that you get rewarded for your good deeds, and punishment for being bad.
And imagine a situation where someone high-profiled like the prime minister being found guilty of a crime and sentenced to 12 years jail time.
In addition, it is weird for the same man to resort to acts of cyber-bullying and cyber-gangsterism, making use of social media to divert attention from the facts and try to whitewash his own crimes as convicted by the court, by continuing his strategy using the “malu-apa” campaign.
This is a very bad image and poor example to our younger generation. We are giving them the impression that corruption is alright. Islam is one of the world’s best religions and I am sure that this “malu apa” propaganda is against its teachings.
This toxic culture for the nation must be stopped. We can recover the monies lost but losing our values bring irreparable damage to the society and country.
My advice for the younger generations today is do not resort to any act of bullying or harassing on the cyber space. Mere popularity on the Internet and social media, without moral and ethics, would not last long. A society without akhlak (good values) cannot retain peace and harmony.
This is virtue subscribed by all religions, where they teach us not to hate but love everyone; and follow good moral conduct.
3. The “National Embarrassment”
Najib, you were referred by the Court of Appeal as a “national embarrassment”. So do yourself a favour and stop embarrassing yourself by making personal attacks on me through Facebook.
And I am sure the verdict on Dec 8 does not warrant him to participate and deliver the keynote address at the prestigious World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF). What are you trying to prove? What are you trying to tell the judges?
Please be reminded that you were convicted and currently on bail, and those on bail must behave, respect the judges and law, and uphold Malaysia’s judicial system.
The event itself is in question. Why call it WCEF when it was not? Najib should be reminded that I myself presented him with the Life Member Award from the real WCEF in the past, not the one organised by Cheah Chyuan Yong.
4. Comrades turned enemy
Let’s face facts. The political arena dominated by Malay-only parties is a real circus now. Today comrade, tomorrow enemy. Today enemy, tomorrow comrade.
And for Najib’s criticism against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, I wish to remind him that the “Atuk” was your mentor. He helped you ascend the premiership!
Both of you were friends and comrades for decades. During his 22 years of being the fourth prime minister, you were both in the same line-up and Malaysia enjoyed peace and harmony. Instead of working together, why do you choose to fight him now?
Why can’t you two work things out based on Islamic teachings and the rule of law and sort things out for the interest of the nation? It is akin to two elephants fighting and the grass is suffering.
And why drag in the Chinese community and the WCEF platform? And even if you do not like Mahathir, you should not insult him. The latter is 96 years old. Have a heart!
As for the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel, let me tell you a story. It used to be the pride of the then-Barisan Nasional (BN) Government when it opened in Oct 1997.
But that was the time the Asian Financial Crisis hit our shores and we could not get any Government assistance, leaving ratings agencies unreasonably downgrading our 200 million bond from “A” to “unsecured” in 2004 despite the hotel being successfully completed.
A year after his retirement, Atuk felt indebted and used his own money to subscribe one million shares through public offer. This is public knowledge.
5. Nobody is above the law
To think that Najib can make the world forget what has happened; it is just impossible, unless you can wipe out contents from the Internet!
The right way for Najib, moving forward, is to ask for forgiveness and prepare valid reasons to seek for pardon, cooperate with the authorities and join efforts to bring back Jho Low. This will be the reset button to rebuild Malaysia, bringing the country back on the right track.
If COVID-19 and floods were not bad enough, the infighting among politicians is making things worse. Only respect for law and order can bring peace and harmony back to Malaysia.
And I have deliberately chosen today, Jan 8, to respond to Najib as this was the date he was convicted by the High Court on corruption charges. It is a shameful day for Malaysia.
Najib must be reminded again that he is currently on bail. Unlike Najib, I have brought pride to Malaysia as I had organised the PGA Official Tour to Malaysia, while Najib was busy having a good time with Tiger Woods.
Last but not the least, since Najib had posted beautiful pictures of The Mines Resort and Golf Club, I have a “Golf Pantun” here to share:
Kayu pertama tentukan tegah atau OB,
Masuk bunker jangan susah hati.
Masuk kolam macam mandi,
Kalau suci jangan buat salah lagi. – Jan 8, 2022
Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew is the founder and former chairman of Malaysia China Business Council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
