NO one has successfully brought down the Malays as former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has, claims Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Mahathir, whose animosity for Najib over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal is no secret, said this amid Najib’s ongoing final appeal in his SRC International RM42 mil corruption case.
There is a real chance that Najib will go to jail next week if the Federal Court dismisses his appeal (pending a royal pardon) – the Pekan MP’s lead counsel in the case, who was appointed at the eleventh hour, refuses to make oral submissions, and Najib has already exhausted the appeals processes in the lower courts.
Mahathir, a two-time former prime minister who was in office for 24 years in total, said the Malays would previously look down on those who steal and be ashamed if any of their family members were involved in crimes.
“But now the Malays no longer feel ashamed. Apa nak malu? (What is there to be ashamed about?)
“Najib has instilled in them that there is no shame when it comes to stealing. He is the boss. The boss can steal. If the boss is not ashamed to steal, the Malays too don’t have to be ashamed when they steal,” the Langkawi MP said.
“Kissing his hand”
The Pejuang chairman added that some even wanted to kiss the hand and greet Najib – as they think they might get money or positions in return.
“Even if the hand reeks of excrement, it’s okay; there’s money behind it,” Mahathir said, keeping to his trademark witty style of writing. “Even if the hand is covered in excrement but there is money, it’s okay. Nothing to be ashamed about.
“Accepting stolen money, no shame. Taking free money, no shame. Unable to pay debts, no shame. Choose a thief, a corrupt person or a prisoner as a prime minister, it’s okay. No shame.”
This is Najib’s “biggest success”, according to Mahathir – inspiring the Malays not to be ashamed, even if they know someone to be corrupt or a thief.
As a result, the whole world is laughing at Malaysia for not being ashamed of such shameful behaviour, he said.
In July 2020, the Kuala Lumpur High Court found Najib guilty of seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust and money laundering in the SRC International case. He was also fined RM210 mil and sentenced to 12 years in jail.
Najib appealed the charges and fine at the Court of Appeal. Last December, the appellate court dismissed the appeal and ruled that Najib’s conviction, alongside the jail sentence and fine, should be upheld.
The Court of Appeal also infamously branded Najib’s conduct in the misappropriation of funds from SRC International – a former 1MDB subsidiary – as a “national embarrassment”. Najib used to be SRC’s adviser emeritus and chairperson of 1MDB’s board of advisers.
Najib is out on bail pending the Federal Court hearing, which is slated to end this Friday (Aug 26). – Aug 21, 2022
Main photo credit: Malay Mail
