ZAID IBRAHIM: NAJIB CAN'T BE PM

"If truth be told, Najib can't be PM"
Zaid Ibrahim | March 18, 09 1:51pm

Full text of former law minister Zaid Ibrahim's hard-hitting speech at the Royal Rotary Club of Kuala Lumpur on 18 March 2009.

This is the second time I have been invited to address a Rotary Club. Thank you for the honour. Given the times we live in, perhaps it might be appropriate for me to speak about the leadership transition that has been foisted upon us Malaysians.

I say ‘foisted’ because neither me nor anyone in this room had any role or say in the choice of the person who will lead Malaysia next. We were mere bystanders in a political chess game. And yet the transition is a subject of great consequence to the nation, one I would say is of great national interest.

Leadership is definitive; the individual who assumes the mantle of leadership of this nation, whomever that may be, is one who for better or worse will leave his mark on us. His will be the hand who guides us to greater success, or possibly gut-wrenching disaster.

Save for the dawn of Merdeka, never in the history of this country has the choice of prime minister been so crucial: Malaysia is in crisis. We are facing tremendous economic challenges with unavoidably harsh socio-political consequences. Our much undermined democracy is once again being assailed by those who would prefer a more autocratic form of governance.

Our public institutions are hollowed out caricatures, unable to distinguish vested party interests from national ones, unable to offer the man in the street refuge from the powerful and connected.

Our social fabric that took us from colony to an independent nation and on through the obstacles of nation building has reached a point where it sometimes feel like we are hanging on by a thread. This is the Malaysia we live in.

PM’s resignation ill-fated

This is the Malaysia which Abdullah Ahmad Badawi leaves behind. Our prime minister will resign later this month - an ill-fated decision. I say ill-fated not because he has been a great prime minister and we would lose irreplaceable leadership, that is regrettably not the case as all things said and done Abdullah could have done much more for Malaysia.

Rather, I say that his resignation is ill-fated because his departure will expose the country to forces which may take us down the road of perdition faster than ever. Much has been said of Pak Lah being a weak leader. However, what his critics have not adequately addressed are the consequences of replacing him as prime minister with the anticipated incoming president of Umno, Najib (Abdul) Razak.

It is an undeniable truth that the average Malaysian is anxious about the anticipated transition. Many would prefer it did not happen.

There are two reasons why this is so. The first has to do with the reasoning underlying Umno's demand for the transition itself. The second has to do with Najib personally.

We must recall that after the 2008 general election - a great success for the nation but a fiasco for Umno – one of the chief complaints by the powers-that-be within Umno was that Abdullah’s feeble leadership led to the concept of Ketuanan Melayu being challenged and ultimately undermined.

His critics also lashed out at him for the latitude given to civil society, a move which they believed weakened a key aspect of Umno's political leverage. It followed in Umno's mind that in order to regain lost ground, it was necessary to reassert its ideology with greater strength.

There was nostalgia for Mahathir's heavy-handed style of leadership and a return to the times when the party cowed many into subservience and submission. The conservatives in Umno yearned for a return to Mahathirism, hoping that it would become a cornerstone of the leadership transition plan. There has been much speculation and punditry on whether a return to the Mahathir era would be good for Malaysia.

Difference between then and now

Let me offer some of my own insight to this debate. The major difference between then and now is this: in most instances, Mahathir was harsh and dictatorial if he believed it was good for the country. But an authoritarian style of government under anyone else would be dictated by the need for self preservation and very little about the country’s interest.

The evidence is all around us. After March 8, (2008) when the prime minister ceased being the home minister, the threats of reprisal have escalated and a climate of fear re-cultivated. The detention of Raja Petra Kamarudin, Teresa Kok and Tan Hoong Cheng exemplify this turn for the worse, this appetite to use the sledgehammer.

The shameful power grab in Perak and wanton disregard for public opinion over how BN wrested control of the silver state make many people shudder at the prospect of a return to the dark days. If that was not depressing enough, we have had to bear witness to the police and the newly-minted Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) displaying their allegiance and support to the BN when all we needed and craved for were honest brokers.

It stands to reason that in the mind of the average Malaysian, having suffered a significant loss last March, Umno is on a rampage to regain what it lost by any method available and the man who is expected to lead it to victory is the man who succeeds Abdullah: Najib (Abdul) Razak.

A prime minister must have the confidence of the majority of the rakyat. In order for this to be the case, his integrity must be beyond question; not only must he be such a person character, he must be seen to be such a person. The office of prime minister is one of great trust, he who holds that office cradles the nation in his palms.

For this to be the case, there cannot be anything in the mind of the greater public that, correctly or otherwise, associates him with matters of criminality, wrongful action, improper conduct or abuses of power. In short, he must be beyond reproach in his dealings both official and private.

Without intending any accusation, it is regrettable that in the collective mind of the rakyat, Najib is not such a person. If a referendum were to be conducted on the subject or if the prime minister was to be elected directly by the rakyat, I do not think Najib would succeed. The reason for this is obvious: the rakyat has doubts, fuelled by the unanswered allegations against him and his unwillingness to confront these allegations.

It is not a mere trifle in the minds of the rakyat that despite a direct challenge from a member of parliament in the august House recently, the deputy prime minister remained silent, not even denying the implicit accusation made against him and demanding that it be repeated outside the chamber in the tried and tested method of refutation employed by parliamentarians throughout the world.

It has not assisted the cause of the incoming prime minister that the MP concerned was suspended for a year on a motion tabled by a fellow minister without the member having been afforded an opportunity to defend his position.

Evidence of SMS text-messages

Consider this. Commissions were paid to an agent for the procurement of submarines through the Defence Ministry, Najib (then) being the defence minister. It is unthinkable that he had no knowledge that the agent was his adviser and aide, Abdul Razak Baginda. The commission paid out was exceedingly large, in excess of RM500 million.

The defence minister was dutybound to direct enquiries to see if there had been any impropriety in the way the contracts were awarded when news of the commission surfaced; after all the price of the submarines would be considerably lower without the need for such commissions.

Taxpayers, you and I, have paid for those submarines at a price that in all probability factored in the commission. Taxpayers are yet to be told of an inquiry let alone the result of such an inquiry.

Consider the Altantuya Shaariibuu affair. A young woman was brutally murdered, her corpse destroyed by explosives.

These explosives are not the usual type of explosives, yet no inquiry was held to determine how they were available to these killers. Those accused of her murder are police officers serving in the Unit Tindakan Khas, a highly specialised unit who amongst other things serve as bodyguards to the prime minister and the deputy prime minister.

Amidst evidence that the accused were employed to protect the PM and the DPM, they were directed to (Abdul) Razak Baginda through the aide of the deputy prime minister. Amongst other things, we have heard of the senior investigating officer admitting that the deputy prime minister was an important witness and yet no statement was taken.

It is not unreasonable to think that this is irregular, more so when evidence of SMS text-messages from the deputy prime minister concerning material matters have surfaced. The text-messages cannot be ignored, proverbially swept under the carpet.

Even if they do not establish - or are not capable of establishing - any culpability on the part of Najib, these issues must be addressed.

The air must be cleared, it is thick with accusations and doubts which can only undermine the office of the prime minister if he were to assume it. The deputy prime minister's cause has not been aided by the fact that charges were preferred against (Abdul) Razak Baginda only after public outcry, the manner in which the prosecution was conducted and the decision of the High Court acquitting (Abdul) Razak Baginda not having been appealed.

Power grab an unmitigated disaster

The Perak affair was an unmitigated disaster for the nation. It is no secret that Najib led the charge there and is still overseeing matters.

In the minds of Malaysians, Perak is synonymous with the deputy prime minister. They now equate him with the high-handed tactics that were employed to seize power, tactics that included the disappearances of the three crucial assemblypersons and the blockading of the legislative assembly by the police.

In doing so, they equate the DPM with the hijacking of democracy, the only persons saying otherwise being those persons who have associations with Umno. In their minds, no responsible leader would allow for the undermining of the institutions of state and the constitution of this nation.

They ask, rightly so, whether this is the kind of leadership that Malaysians can expect from Najib when he becomes the prime minister.

With all of this, and more, how are we not to feel anxious? How are we to sleep peacefully at night? I know that I cannot. The situation is desperate and the air is pregnant with tension. We need the state of affairs to be resolved in a way that is in the best interests of the nation and the rakyat.

To an extent, this is a matter for the Barisan Nasional. I urge its members to put politics aside and think things through. We all want a better future, a safer and more prosperous life for our children, all of them, a Malaysia where our children can reach for the stars with the certainty that there is nothing to stop them from being the Malaysians they want to be.

Let the king be kingmaker

I do not believe that the Barisan Nasional will do what is necessary. Politics has a tendency of making those who embrace it cynical. The answer lies elsewhere, with His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

In this case, His Majesty plays the role of ‘kingmaker.’ The discretion to appoint the prime minister who succeeds Abdullah lies with His Majesty. Though His Majesty is required under the constitution to appoint the person who commands the confidence of the majority of the members of parliament, it is a matter for His Majesty's judgment.

Never before has such a heavy burden been laid on His Majesty to make a brave and correct choice.

For King and country, I urge His Majesty to take into consideration the prerequisites to appointment and the concerns of the rakyat. There is no constitutional obligation on His Majesty to appoint the president of Umno as the prime minister. There are still well qualified members of parliament from Umno who can be appointed PM to bring us back from the brink.

Malaysia needs someone whom the rakyat can throw their weight behind without reservation. Someone they can trust and respect. Someone who has no scandal to distract him and thereby gain respect from the international community.

These are difficult times and be prepared for worst times to visit us. Malaysia needs a leader who will unite the country in the face of the adversity. Divided, we are weak. I am loath to say it, but for the reasons I have set out am compelled to say that Najib will most certainly divide us and in doing so, will nudge us closer to the edge.

Some of you may say that all efforts to promote the national interest are at this stage an exercise in futility. If truth be told, I am tempted to slip into cynical hopelessness too. I am fighting the temptation to give up for one simple reason: Malaysia and all that it represents. This is a blessed country, a country too valuable for us to turn our backs on.

Hundreds Attend Global Warming Protest

(Image forwarded by Judy Mezen)

For the first time in five or six years, I've been thrown a bit off balance by catching a head cold - twice since January 10th! Not only has all the coughing and sneezing depleted my energy, it has also forced me to sleep more. I hear a lot of people in the city have been down with bronchial infections in recent weeks. Could it be the intense heat followed by sudden downpours? Or has all the rotten news we've been hearing since the start of 2009 weakened our collective immune system?

On the political front, it's been one ugly fiasco after another - all pointing to the absolute moral degradation of vengeful Umno warlords led by Najib Razak, the most desperate man on earth it would appear.

The public has long given up hope on the police, the anti-corruption agency, the election commission, and the judiciary. Abdullah Badawi has shown himself to be just a boring old career bureaucrat corrupted by the trappings of power and wealth. Nevertheless, a large majority of Malaysians would prefer to see Pak Blah carry on as PM - at least till Pakatan Rakyat is strong enough to take over - rather than to let his deputy Mr Pink Lips ascend to full power (as though he doesn't already appear to call the shots with the Attorney-General's Chambers, the Chief of Police, and the MACC).

With each passing day we see the pudgy hand of Najib Razak turning into a scaly reptilian claw clutching at straws - using his clout to push Anwar back into a defensive corner with the ludicrous sodomy trial (phase two) being forcibly transferred from sessions to high court (where Umno can presumably pick another willing Augustine Paul for the hatchet job of derailing justice and thwarting Anwar's ambition to become PM).

The sneaky manner in which both AG and IGP were absolved of all wrongdoing would be laughable if it weren't such a tragic commentary on the moribund state of democracy in Malaysia. And now the Umno goons are abusing the laws to scare bloggers from criticizing the Perak imbroglio by way of negative feedback on the Sultan's patently partisan decision.

It's enough to make anyone puke and reconsider migrating.

Perhaps if I were in my mid-twenties, I'd be tempted to mull over a few options. But my root has grown too deep here. I'm staying put no matter what. I vowed 10 years ago that I would live to celebrate the final inglorious end of Mahathirism. We may have rejoiced a little too soon last March. But I'm fairly convinced that if we can stick it out till next March, Malaysia may well be rid of the greatest pestilence we have had to endure - the evil mamak who ruined this country with his arrogance, cynicism, greed and megalomania.

This picture just about sums up the political tangle we're in. Problem is, even the professional help we're counting upon to serve us aren't doing their jobs.

Anyway, I've been feeling too congested to express my personal outrage over all the inane and obscene goings-on in the country. So I'll just dress up a few pertinent essays posted by other political commentators whose views I share and stick them in my blog. Stay tuned, folks.

FULFILLING THE R-A-H-M-A-N PROPHECY

Who knows the origins of this odd little prophecy that has been going around for at least a couple of decades. The prophecy is supposedly a formula to predict the succession of Malaysian prime ministers starting with the first, Tunku Abdul Rahman; then Abdul Razak, Hussein Onn, Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Badawi... and, it would appear that the N would be Najib Razak.

When I first heard about the R-A-H-M-A-N prophecy, the question that immediately sprang to mind was: does this mean Malaysia will only have six prime ministers? What happens after RAHMAN? Do we become a republic where the office of prime minister will be superseded by that of president? Or will the country disintegrate into shambles and end up annexed by Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand? Only recently the thought struck me that the RAHMAN prophecy was probably initiated within Umno and it's supposed to track the six presidents of Umno before the party destroys itself through internal rot and infighting. Najib Razak has no contenders as the next Umno president (Tengku Razaleigh, to his credit, received only one nomination because he refused to pay the required fee to Umno division chiefs). As soon as Abdullah Badawi steps down as Umno president, Najib automatically takes over, thereby fulfilling Umno's R-A-H-M-A-N prophecy.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean Najib will become PM. Anybody with even one functioning braincell can see that the Altantuya trail leads straight to Najib's doorstep. The only ones who can't see it have either been paid off with submarine dividends or they happen to be the AG or IGP.

With the swift and irreversible decline of Umno, Najib will have the dubious distinction of being the last president of the Ketuanan Melayu party before it sank out of sight into a quagmire of its own making. Even if Najib does appoint himself PM, his tenure will most certainly be short-lived. Nobody can rule a country at gunpoint - and that's what Najib would have to do to stay in power, such is the man's unpopularity.

So let's say Najib gets to play PM for a couple of months and then there's a vote of no confidence against him in parliament. The Agong will dissolve the government and allow for a snap election - which Pakatan Rakyat will easily win with Anwar Ibrahim at the helm. That would place Anwar as Malaysia's seventh PM and put an end to 52 years of Umno-dominated BN misrule.

Think on this scenario and perk up, folks.

Pic by TV Smith

Please sign this petition from the People's Parliament

I do not have confidence in Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak as Prime Minister of Malaysia. Do you?

January 4, 2009

I thought it was pointless sending out good wishes for the year 2009.

If we want 2009 to be the beginning of real change in our country, we must make it happen.

We can’t sit back, leave everything to others and to chance, and just wish for the best.

We know that come March, 2009, UMNO will have a new president.

Yes, Najib.

And we know that if Pak Lah steps down as PM then, as Najib and so many in UMNO hope he will, Najib will be making a bee-line to His Majesty seeking to be appointed as PM.

Frankly, notwithstanding all the things I’ve written about Pak Lah in this blog, I’d rather he remain PM then inflict Najib upon us as the new premier of Malaysia.

Sure, I’d rather see a Pakatan Rakyat federal government come end-March, 2009, with Anwar as PM

If that happens, great.

If it doesn’t, though, I do not want Najib running my country.

I have no confidence in Najib.

Why?

If you don’t know already, my reasons are as laid out in this PETITION that is addressed to the 221 other MPs in our Dewan Rakyat, excluding Najib.

Well, 221 after the Kuala Terengganu by-election results on 17th January.

This is my gift to all my fellow anak-anak Bangsa Malaysia for 2009.

My dear friend, Nanda, helped me to put it together.

It’s long, I know, but that’s for the benefit of those who may not be very clear on the issues, including some of the MPs to whom the petition is addressed.

If you, too, like me, have no confidence in Najib as PM, give the petition a read and see if you will give it your support.

If we fail to stop Najib, at least we can look at the next generation of Malaysians in the eye and say, ‘God knows we tried to end the rape of this country.’

Haris Ibrahim

5 Candidates for 6th Malaysian PM

Remember that "very intelligent" (or so he claims) 24-year-old subtitler named Kavilan who got everyone in stitches with his hysterically madcap Bee En Downfall Parody based on the Third Reich's final moments? Well, Kav just tagged me to name five of my favorite candidates for 6th Malaysian prime minister (and he doesn't care whether I'm serious or satirical).

And, as tag games go, Kav would like me to tag 5 other bloggers. Sheeesh, don't we already spend too much time online? But since Kav is such an ebullient young chap, bubbling over with zany wit and acute insights into local politics - and he seems set to make even bigger waves as an all-round agent provocateur - I figured it won't hurt to oblige. Besides, this could turn out quite fun. So here are my five choices for the next prime minister of Malaysia...




1. LATOK LAT @ Mohd Nor Khalid: With so many cartoon characters in the Cabinet, we really ought to have a master cartoonist as PM. Especially one listed among the World's Top 100 Cartoonists! I've known Lat for 38 years. He used to ride a noisy old Triumph motorcycle to work (he was on the crime desk at the NST in those days and the editors had no idea the kid could draw until they saw a feature on him in Asia Magazine). He was the only one who seemed impressed by the 450cc metallic purple 1948 BSA I owned (it had no rear shock absorbers so you can imagine how rattled I'd appear at the end of each ride).

We used to chill at a mutual friend's house in PJ, getting stoned and belting out a medley of Bob Dylan songs. A few years later some friends formed a bluegrass band called K.D. Possum & The Flying Fox and Lat joined us on lead guitar and bass (he was billed as "Nashville Slim" and he was damn good too, even crooned a couple of Johnny Cash songs occasionally). So with Lat as PM I'd have little to worry about. I doubt he'd ever ISA me. The worst that could happen if I refuse to giggle at his jokes might be he'd revert to calling me by my discarded User ID. Lat has a knack of injecting so much empathy and warmth into his caricatures. Nobody is evil in Lat's world (he could even make Dr M come across as lovable). After all the badmouthing and mudslinging that's been raging in local politics, Lat as PM would bring about genuine muhibbah and transform us all into true Malaysians.



2. SUFIAH YUSOF: Now this sexy young lady might be just what we need to instill a bit of discipline into our law enforcement thugs and bottom-pinching, child-molesting ministers. I know Sufiah charges £130 an hour for her services - which works out to £39,000 a month (or RM234,000). But she'd be worth every penny if she could whip the entire Cabinet into shape and turn civil servants into fine, upstanding members of society.

A former child prodigy in mathematics, Sufiah would be outstanding as finance minister too. In fact, with her undisputed multi-tasking skills, she could take over all the ministerial portfolios, thereby freeing the other MPs from tedious routine and allowing them the opportunity to take up healthy, useful hobbies like cycling, earthworm-breeding and yoga. The National Fatwa Council would be abolished and replaced with the National Fat-Reducing Council, with a special mandate to monitor the weight of all top rank bureaucrats. All those prone to obesity would be nominated as contestants in state-sponsored marathon fuckfests - or summoned to the PM's office after hours to perform national service.

Another distinct advantage of having Sufiah Yusof as PM would be getting Hannah Tan (left) as deputy PM. I've only ever bumped into Hannah once at the Actors Studio foyer in Bangsar and she came across as an extremely friendly and enchanting person with heaps of undiscovered potential.

As deputy PM her official duties would include doing what she's already does so well - which is to reassure Malaysians that there's no place like home. As DPM Hannah would also serve as our roving ambassador-at-large, luring more foreign investors to embark on joint ventures and breed more irresistible Pan-Asian beauties.



3. NURUL IZZAH ANWAR: Izzah is only 27 (she turns 28 on 19 November) and has been an MP for just eight months, but judging by her effortless poise and magnetic personality (she has nearly 5,000 friends on Facebook!) - not to mention her sparkling intelligence, maturity and dedication - she's already light years ahead of veteran politicos like Tengku Razaleigh - and every inch a natural-born Princess too. Put Nurul Izzah in a line-up with Rosmah Mansor, Rafidah Aziz, Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, Azalina Othman - and for good measure throw in the alluring Umno Princess Noraini Ahmad, the winsome Hannah Yeoh, and the indomitable Teresa Kok - and see just who the rakyat will nominate as prime ministerial candidate. Yup, Izzah is Daddy's Girl right down to her determination, her drive, her charismatic beauty and above all, her winning streak.



4. WAN AZIZAH ISMAIL: No other woman in Malaysia has done as much to demonstrate the quiet, gentle power of the Feminine Principle as former Opposition Leader Wan Azizah, fondly known as Kak Wan. She studied medicine at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and was awarded gold medals in obstretics and gynecology, but opted to graduate as an ophthamologist instead. When her husband was sacked as deputy PM and finance minister in September 1998, Wan Azizah rose to the occasion and led the Reformasi movement as president of Parti KeADILan Nasional (the National Justice Party, which later merged with Parti Rakyat Malaysia to form Parti Keadilan Rakyat or the People's Justice Party).

All through the difficult years when her husband was incarcerated and in grievous pain from an untreated spinal injury, Wan Azizah carried herself with courage, dignity and stoicism - and yet she had a warm smile and a kind word for everyone she met at ceramahs. The people of Malaysia not only hold Wan Azizah in the highest esteem, but wholeheartedly adore, respect, and trust her. Not given to raising her voice or using harsh words, this living embodiment of nobility and virtue is the complete antithesis of - and the perfect antidote to - the degeneracy, corruption and hypocrisy within Umno that crept in during the Mahathir administration (and which continues to block the way for truly inspiring leaders to take over). With Wan Azizah as PM this nation will experience a massive healing and be restored to its destined greatness.



5. DATO' SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM: Is he the world's most successful failure - or Malaysia's response to Barack Obama? How come he's still the Opposition Leader and not PM? And why did he insist in September that he had "the numbers" for a bloodless takeover of the federal government? Will Saiful Bukhari's sodomy accusation be exposed as a vile conspiracy and the whole ridiculous case thrown out - or will Anwar find himself sucked into a rerun of the same nightmare, like a Prometheus chained to a rock and subject to having his reputation devoured by a vulture named Mahathir for all eternity?

Anwar Ibrahim is undeniably a man of extraordinary destiny, whose life reads like classic mythology, and whose trials and tribulations have been epic, perhaps even messianic. Feared, mistrusted, slandered, betrayed, unjustly accused, cruelly arrested, brutalized, politically crucified and thrown in the dungeon for six long years - Anwar Ibrahim's resurrection and heroic return from the political wilderness is the very stuff of legends. Despite the jaw-dropping miracle he has wrought by pulling and holding together the diverse factions within the Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition - facilitating the political tsunami of 8 March 2008 that swept away Umno/BN's hitherto unvanquished and behemoth monopoly on power - some Malaysians remain skeptical and continue to mock Anwar's publicly stated ambition to become PM.

I am certainly not one of them. Since 2 September 1998 - the day Anwar ceased to be DPM, finance minister and Umno bigwig - I have been observing the man closely and he has conducted himself impeccably as a spiritual warrior and visionary leader. From grudging admiration and growing respect, I have come to love the man as dearly as I love myself and my country. Yes, I believe and trust in Anwar Ibrahim and I have absolutely no qualms that he will prove the best prime minister for Malaysia at this juncture of our political evolution.

Go for it, bro - and keep smiling!

These are the five bloggers I'm tagging: donplaypuks®, Bodohland, Patrick Teoh, ShadowFox, and Sarawak Headhunter.

(I don't know why I didn't tag any female bloggers, which I'm generally inclined to do, but I trust some of the guys I've named herein will rectify this gender imbalance ;-)

Re: THE SIXTH PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

A letter from Haris Ibrahim, dated 31st October, 2008, to:

1. YB Tan Sri Bernard G. Dompok,
President,
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation,
Ibu Pejabat UPKO,
Lot 9 & 10, Tingkat 2 & 3,
New World Commercial Centre,
Pekan Penampang,
Peti Surat 420,
89507 Penampang, Sabah.

2. YB Dato' Seri Ong Tee Keat,
President,
Malaysian Chinese Association,
8th Floor, Wisma MCA, 163,
Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur.

3. YB Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon,
President,
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia,
Level 5, Menara PGRM,
8, Jln Pudu Ulu, Cheras,
56100, Kuala Lumpur

Dear Yang Berkhidmat – Yang Berkhidmat,

Re: The Sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia

God’s peace be with you.

I am a Malaysian citizen. I also moderate a blog called ‘The People’s Parliament.’

I am writing to you because you are the only leaders within Barisan Nasional in whom I dare place my hopes that my concerns relating to the person who aspires to soon be appointed as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia will receive genuine attention and, hopefully, positive action.

Yang Berkhidmat Tan Sri Bernard, allow me to say that I have long admired and appreciated your willingness, when your colleagues in the Barisan Nasional chose to remain silent for reasons best known to them, to speak up and remain steadfast on issues of national concern. Many of us remember how, in early 2006, you were the only non-Muslim minister who did not retract the memorandum earlier submitted by you and nine of your other non-Muslim colleagues in the cabinet to the Prime Minister following upon the controversial refusal of the civil High Court to adjudicate on the matter of the faith of the deceased Everest climber, Sarjen Moorthy. We have also not forgotten how, when the Deputy Prime Minister rather irresponsibly and baselessly declared last year that Malaysia is an Islamic state, yours was the lone voice that publicly disputed this groundless claim.

Yang Berkhidmat Dato' Seri Ong and Yang Berkhidmat Tan Sri Dr. Koh, it is my sincere hope that as you have both only recently been elected to the pinnacle of your respective parties, both of which have demonstrated, since the 12th General Elections, a greater sensitivity to the wishes and concerns of the electorate and a willingness to speak up on those wishes and concerns, you will now lead your parties with the requisite courage to address the concerns which I now wish to draw your attention to.

We are soon to see a changing of the guard in UMNO.

Barring any surprises, it is expected that, unless brought forward to December this year as is being speculated by certain quarters, the UMNO general assembly will take place in March 2009 whereafter, it appears to be a foregone conclusion that Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib will take over the presidency of UMNO from Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

That is not my concern.

My concern, and that of a great many, is the assumption and assertion by many in UMNO, and the seeming acquiescence to the same by the leaders of the other component parties in Barisan Nasional, that if and when Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib takes over the presidency of UMNO, he will, as a matter of course, take over the Prime Ministership of this country because, so the argument seems to go, he will then be the president of UMNO and the Prime Minister of Malaysia has and will always be the president of UMNO.

I perceive two difficulties with this argument. One is constitutional, the other one of perception of, firstly, the general public, and secondly, Members of Parliament, as to the suitability of Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib for the office of Prime Minister.

In truth, the second difficulty will become immediately apparent when the first difficulty as mentioned above and detailed below is fully appreciated.

The argument that the Prime Minister has always to be the president of UMNO is, with respect, flawed and contradicts Article 43(2) of the Federal Constitution which, in the most unambiguous language, stipulates that His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agong shall appoint as Prime Minister, the one who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of’ the Dewan Rakyat.

The Constitution does not stipulate that His Majesty shall appoint the president of UMNO as Prime Minister, but the one who, in the judgment of His Majesty, is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of’ the Dewan Rakyat.

No doubt, the previous three Prime Ministers were and the current Prime Minister is the president of UMNO. What must be noted, though, is that at the time of their respective appointments, no one seriously thought to question, let alone doubted, whether any of the previous three Prime Ministers or the current one commanded the confidence of the majority of the members of’ the Dewan Rakyat.

The notion that the Prime Minister must always be the president of UMNO is, therefore, plainly misinformed. The president of UMNO can only be appointed Prime Minister if His Majesty forms the view that that president was likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Dewan Rakyat.

It is most important that this false notion be set right and set right immediately. No doubt you will face tremendous opposition from your counterparts in UMNO when you assert the correct, constitutional position as I have laid out above, but in this regard, I must remind you that your oath of office as Members of Parliament behoves you to act without fear and with one aim, that is, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

I turn now to the more thorny matter of the second difficulty of perception I have alluded to above: whether Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib is suitable for the office of Prime Minister.

Allow me to put this matter differently.

Given the matters that I will shortly narrate below, can you, in all honesty, say that you would have the fullest confidence in Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib as Prime Minister of our country?

The matters that I ask you to take note of.

1. Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib has maintained that he neither knew, was ever acquainted with nor had any dealings whatsoever with murdered Altantuya Shaaribuu, the central figure in the ongoing murder trial in Shah Alam. Yet:

1.1 on 29th June, 2007, Mongolian national, Burmaa Oyunchimeg, a prosecution witness in the abovementioned murder trial, testified that she had seen a photograph of the victim, accused Razak Baginda and a government official. Newspaper reports give the impression that both the prosecution and some of the defence went to great lengths to try and not allow this witness to continue with this line of testimony. However, when she was examined by Mr. Karpal Singh, who finally managed to get leave to ask the witness who the government official was, she replied, “Najib Razak. I remember the name Najib Razak because the name Razak is the same. I thought maybe they were brothers.” Subsequently, when Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib was asked to comment on this evidence, he declined to do so, on the grounds that it would be inappropriate for him to comment further as any statement he made might be deemed to be on a matter sub-judice, given that the trial was still ongoing. To this date, Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib has never categorically denied this piece of evidence. To the best of my knowledge, no effort has been made by the authorities to investigate this piece of information.

1.2 On 3rd July, 2008, private investigator Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal publicly disclosed his own statutory declaration made on 1st July, 2008 in which he gave details that categorically pointed to Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib knowing Altantuya very, very well. A careful analysis of the statutory declaration will reveal that whilst details contained therein related also to the accused Razak Baginda and the victim, amongst others, the most damaging details contained therein related to Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib. The very next day, in the most suspicious of circumstances, Balasubramaniam publicly disclosed a newer statutory declaration made by him retracting the contents of his earlier statutory declaration. Balasubramaniam and his family have since disappeared and have not been seen by family and friends. A news report dated 10th July, 2008 has it that Bukit Aman CID chief Mohd Bakri Zinin confirmed that a team of police had taken a statement from Balasubramaniam in a "neighbouring country," declined to say which country he and his family were in but confirmed that Balasubramaniam had said he left Malaysia because he feared for his life. Mohd Bakri also confirmed then that police were investigating both of the contradictory statutory declarations and asked for time to complete the investigations. To-date, we have not heard on the outcome of those investigations. Meanwhile, as reported in a media report on 15th July, 2008, the nephew of Balasubramaniam, R. Kumaresan, startlingly disclosed that whilst he had been in contact with his uncle, he had declined to inform the police of Balasubramaniam’s whereabouts when asked to do so by the police because "I cannot reveal the full details to the police and by doing this I understand what the consequences are... but if I do reveal everything I know what will happen to them."

2. On 26th June, 2007, another Mongolian national, Uuriintuya Gal-Orchir, who testified at the murder trial, complained in the course of her testimony that local immigration records of her, Altantuya and their friend Namiraa Gerelmaa’s entry into Malaysia on 8th October, 2006 had mysteriously vanished. Lead prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah and the defence lawyers protested that this evidence was irrelevant. To the best of my knowledge, this matter of the disappearing immigration records of Altantuya and her friends has never been investigated to verify if correct and, if found to be correct, who might be responsible for the same and if it might have a bearing on the murder trial.

3. Paragraph 52 of the first statutory declaration of Balasubramaniam details an sms that was allegedly sent by Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib to Razak Baginda on the day that the latter was arrested. The sms reads: “I am seeing IGP at 11am today ... matter will be solved ... be cool.” The correctness or otherwise of this sms is presumably the subject of the police investigation referred to by Bukit Aman CID chief Mohd Bakri Zinin. However, in another series of sms’es supposedly between Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib and senior lawyer Muhd Shafee Abdullah, the authenticity of which Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib has impliedly admitted, the former sent the following sms to the latter on the morning of 16th November, 2006, the very morning that Razak Baginda was charged in court in connection with the murder of Altantuya : “Pls do not say anything to the press today. i will explain later. RB will have to face a tentative charge but all is not lost”. These sms’es were publicly disclosed on 11th October, 2008 with an immediate public outcry for an investigation whether an abuse of power by an interference with the administration of justice had occurred. On 14th October, 2008, Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib, in reference to this series of sms’es, publicly denied that they evidenced any abuse of power, without ever refuting the authenticity of the same. To-date, there has been no public statement by the relevant authorities whether these sms’es are the subject of any investigation to ascertain if indeed any abuse of power has occurred. If in fact an investigation has been done, no results of the same have been announced. Incidentally, even as write this letter, I have just received word that Razak Baginda has been acquitted of the charge that Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib categorized as ‘tentative’.

You will note that whilst there are many allegations of corruption and secret commissions circulating, I have not sought to trouble you to take note of the same as, to date, these appear to be without any factual or evidential basis. The matters listed above, however, are all matters on record.

It may well be that the matters that I have raised above do not occasion any concern on your part because you are privy to other information that fully vindicates Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib of any and all inferences and aspersions that might reasonably be drawn or made from the matters abovestated. If so, then I must ask, for the peace of mind of the great number who are now burdened with these concerns and, so that an innocent man in the person of Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib should not have to unfairly suffer such inferences and aspersions, that you make public at the soonest possible such other information as you may have.

However, if, like the rest of us, you too, are left to draw the same inferences and aspersions that might reasonably be drawn or made by the rest of us from the matters abovestated, I ask again how you and every other decent member of the Dewan Rakyat might, in all good conscience, say that you have the fullest confidence in Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib to lead this country as Prime Minister? Would not every man and woman in the Dewan Rakyat who has sworn to act in the best interests of this country, be under an obligation to disclose to His Majesty that by reason of the matters stated above remaining unsatisfactorily answered, you cannot lend your support to Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib to lead this country as Prime Minister?

I fully understand and appreciate that the matter that I seek to bring to your attention vide this letter is a difficult one. However, if these serious matters which relate to the leadership of our country and which now greatly trouble the people are not to be taken back to our political leaders, then I am truly at a loss as to who these grave concerns should be taken to.

Finally, I am obliged to inform you that this letter will also be displayed on my blog. You may wish to instruct your staff to note the sentiments of readers and commentators to the same.

Your duties will no doubt afford you little time to respond to this letter. I shall be grateful if you would give the matters and concerns raised herein your fullest attention and to take such action as your conscience dictate.

I thank you for taking time out from your busy schedule to read this letter.

I am, as always, anak Bangsa Malaysia,

Haris Ibrahim