VETERAN journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has cautioned the three children of incarcerated former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s children against taking a plunge into politics just to defend their father’s legacy.
First thing first, Kadir reckoned that it is senseless for Nooryana Najwa, Datuk Mohd Nizar and Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin to venture into UMNO politics with the hope to achieve success solely in the name of their father.
“From the investigation and trial of the SRC International Sdn Bhd and 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd) cases, we were exposed to a lot of information about the wealth of Najib and his family. I do not mean to say that Najib’s three children have received a reward from their parents’ wealth,” the former Bersatu supreme council member penned on his Facebook page.
“In addition to the criminal cases related to SRC International and 1MDB, Najib also left a legacy that degraded the political dignity and image of the Malays, namely ‘cash is king’. In simple language, use money to buy votes.”
Delving further, Kadir said as someone who has known Najib for quite some time and was once involved in supporting his political work, he nevertheless has “to admit that not all of his (Najib’s) legacies are bad or negative”.
“Briefly, I have known him since 1976 at PETRONAS. The following year, I interviewed him in conjunction with his first anniversary as the Pekan MP,” he reminisced. “I maintained a good relationship with him until around 2012/2013 when I began to notice that his behaviour began to deviate from his goal.”
Added Kadir who himself was a staunch UMNO member until he deserted the party’s struggle in 2015 (during Najib’s administration) after a span of 32 years: “I may be wrong but from my association with him, I feel he started to change when he was appointed the defence minister in 1990. It could be because of the friends he was with, or the privileges given to the ministry.”
In summing up, Kadir remains adamant that it is still inappropriate for Najib’s three children to venture into politics simply on the basis of protecting their father’s legacy and their family’s lineage or to use the UMNO platform to defend their father.
“People certainly want to know what agenda, philosophy and ideology they have to fight for the good of the common people. After all, not all descendants and tribes of politicians who enter politics on the basis of legacy are successful, capable and authoritative. In fact, many are bland and failed,” added Kadir. – April 3, 2023
Main pic credit: Berita Harian
