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| Malaysia’s Deputy Premier Najib in Trouble? |
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| Written by Our Correspondent | |
| Friday, 30 March 2007 | |
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Pressure mounts in Kuala Lumpur to put the brakes on a scandal-tainted Malay politico
There is considerable speculation that Najib, the son of Malaysia’s second prime minister, will be forced to step down from national politics. One rumor has him becoming chief minister of his native Pahang state, although the exit route for most discredited or politically suspect figures in Malaysia is a diplomatic or other posting overseas, according to sources contacted by Asia Sentinel. In any case, on March 13, he became sufficiently concerned that he called a press conference in his Perak constituency to deny rumors that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was considering dumping him in favor of Muhyidin Yassin, currently minister of agriculture and agro-based industries and a Badawi ally. Najib is said to be fighting back on a several fronts, making the rounds of the old bulls of the United Malays National Organization, Malaysia’s biggest political party, in an effort to save his career. In January, Najib reportedly flew to London to attempt to meet with Mahathir Mohamad, the octogenarian former prime minister who still carries considerable clout inside UMNO, in an attempt to shore up his support. Mahathir reportedly declined to see him. In particular Najib has been wounded by speculation of his involvement, however peripheral, in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the 28 year-old Mongolian beauty whose body was found in a patch of jungle outside a Kuala Lumpur on October 20. Two policemen from an elite Special Operations Force whose ultimate boss was Najib were arrested for the crime. Altantuya disappeared after attempting to confront Abdul Razak Baginda, the head of a think tank closely tied to Najib, over support for her 18-month-old son. Razak Baginda is also facing charges for conspiring in the murder Originally, a third member of the force – a 22-year-old woman lance corporal – was also arrested. She was never named in news stories by Malaysia’s government-friendly press and was released a week later without being charged. There is widespread speculation in Malaysia that she is the aide-de-camp and bodyguard to Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor. Razak Baginda is scheduled to go on trial in June. The case leaves open the question of how two – and possibly three ‑ elite police officers became involved with a political analyst who has no formal government authority. The top leadership of UMNO, the dominant force in the ruling national coalition, have been tiptoeing gingerly around the case ever since the arrests in November. Razak Baginda, originally scheduled to go on trial in March 2008, had his trial date moved up by months in an unusual move. That has raised additional questions in political circles over whether the move was engineered by Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi or individuals close to him because there is evidence that would tie Najib to the case. Kuala Lumpur’s energetic blogs are buzzing with rumors that prosecutors have a letter indicating that Najib asked Malaysia’s Immigration Department to issue the doomed Altantuya a visa, and that at one point Najib, Razak Baginda and Altantuya were said to have gone overseas from Malaysia together, although others point out that visitors from Russia, China, Mongolia and from lots of other countries can get visas very easily to visit Malaysia.
In addition to questions over the murder case, Najib is also under fire for the 2002 purchase by the Malaysian Ministry of Defense of three submarines that cost the treasury RM$4.5 billion (US$1.3 billion) for which a company controlled by Abdul Razak Baginda was paid a commission of RM510 million (US$147.3 million) in a sale that included no competitive tenders.
Driving Najib from national politics would be difficult. In addition to the cachet he enjoys from being his father’s son, as deputy party president he has strong ties among UMNO leaders in a career that goes back to 1978 as a functionary in the very strong UMNO Youth wing. The party’s nearly 200 division chiefs are key to his political wellbeing, and reports are that he has been wooing them assiduously, arranging in some cases for overseas junkets. And, as UMNO goes, so goes Malaysian politics. Despite its endemic corruption and the pervasive sense of rot at the top, it appears highly unlikely that any outside political force could even dent it. Anwar Ibrahim, who was jailed on charges of sexual abuse that were widely perceived as spurious, has been leading a reform party movement, making speeches across the country about party corruption and in particular Najib’s connection to it. But few believe Anwar has any chance to take down UMNO. The odds are instead that if Najib were to be sent packing, it would be at the behest of UMNO leaders who have decided he is too hot to handle, not by the country’s full electorate. Comments (13)
  written by EAF, April 01, 2007
It is rather unfortunate that Najib was sitting on the fence of UMNO-hood. He was Tun M sleeper in the PM Camp and the future successor. Unfortunately he was also Tun Diam sleeper in Tun M camp! Tun M had asked him to choose his allegiance and not to listen and be influenced by his selfish wife.
Unfortunately Najib underestimated the influence of Tun M and the “colonials”, whose support in crucial for his survival. Now the question is whether Tun M has a soft heart like Tunku and whether the group would let him (and his wife) off for not sharing the loots. Anwar when he was the deputy PM did not survive their wrath when he started giving out fat contracts to his “friends” i.e. nominees that are outside the group. Can Anwar take down UMNO ? Set a thief to catch a thief? He was a colonial and had all their virtues! Could he possibly be effective in capturing the hearts and minds of the Malays? Is he able to wake them up to their plights and show them that Malaysia could have been like Singapore, if only they had not demanded the continuance of their “special privileges” after one generation? By so jealously guarding it, US$5-10Trillions in cash and opportunities were lost by the country in the last 40 years! Has he got the gut to tell them that Malaysia belongs to all Malaysians after all Malaya did not belong to the Malays, as it was the 17th Vassal State of China? It is time for the Malays to give up the handicaps and regain their pride and dignities and stand confidently with other Malaysian. Or is Anwar but a dream within a dream? As for Tun Dr. M there is no redemption for him and peace of mind. They will not give him the opportunity to correct all the wrongs committed by him as the “banquet” is still ongoing. He is party to the destruction of Malaysia and robbed the Malays of their dignities. He had created all the s**ts: let him enjoy in it. What is ill-gotten money and power when you are old and will be meeting your Maker and not having enough time to rectify the wrongs and ensure your place in Paradise?
 written by pierre, April 20, 2007
It is not just najib, badawi is part of the problem. The whole administration is rotten from top down. Anyone who is naive enough to say that badawi is "mr.clean" needs to seriously re-examine his position.
 written by Jeyapalan.T.S.Mahesan, April 22, 2007
Perhaps it would be wise for the writer "our correspondent" to identify himself/herself, to actually accredit himself/herself, & mix around here in KL & the rest of West/East Malaysia, and then write with proper knowledge.The article/s stink to high heaven as being based on rumours and hidden grouses.
 written by Stangerman, April 23, 2007
Like any country, first blame it yourself. The Malays are not smart enough to use their votes. The people who fight for their special rights (so called fight) are also those who are corrupt and work to make money for themselves. Are the Malays smart enough to vote them out? Not in another 200 years. By that time, they will chase away or Malay-ised the non-Malays and their society would have become a decadent. Anwar is having a good try but none of the Malays will listen.
It is mere talk. Mahatir in his many interview have admitted himself that he has not been able to change the value system of the Malays. In certain occasions, he has even been blunt to say that they are still very lazy. But, even he is still talking about the need to protect Malay rights, when the issue came up in the debate on Iskandar Development Region. Most of common voters don't have enough of macro view. This happens in Singapore too. Some of friends complained about the high handed ness of their government. When I asked to honestly tell me who they voted for each time, it is still the PAP. Most of these are afraid to lose the development and their property values, should they vote in the opposition. In short, we can say, "You asked for it!".
 written by Thir De Lasag, June 25, 2007
We have been trying very hard to fight this unfairness to other needful the malays itself. Everyone in the non malay group feels they are elite and more superior. There a small group of elite malays in control which is far far ahead from your imagination with wealth/international status/has been and done all in total of up to what your grandfather, mine, you & me put together will only be a pinch.
Lets help the kampung people out there which no nothing. As long as they are given a plot of land and some ceramah in the evening they are fine. If we feel Malaysia is for all Malaysian then we need to do something for the Malaysian. If we challenge this group they will use the poor ones in the kampung to get temperamental with us. Please lets be happy and get them give more to them rather than one robber steals everything and keeps it abroad. The country belongs to the people/public not to the political party they elect. It belongs to them we need to make them realise and demand their rights.
 written by shaikhmohd123, June 27, 2007
Dato Annuar Ibrahim said he also involved in submarine "deal" which the goverment didnot take any action.
(during interview with aljazeera one on one 1-2 month ago)
 written by Ben Lim, July 08, 2007
The minority Chinese population is slowly decreasing over the years. It is 26% now from 35%. In another 50 years from today, it will probably be just 5%. As a 62 year old Malaysian Chinese, I have live to understand how the Chinese here have been marginalized ever since the implementation of NEP over the years. A lot of Chinese have migrated oversea since then. Now under Badawi administration, the economy is getting worse. Yet he believes everything is going fine. If the Malay do not wake up in time, this nation will be doomed. The Malay should work hand in hand with the Chinese here to go global. Remember China is becoming a world power. The Chinese here can help this nation. Most countries are looking forward to China. Nowadays, Malaysia is far behind other developing countries. We used to be a developing country but now Badawi adminstration is comparing Malaysia better some third world African countries. Maybe when Chinese population reached to 5%, they will probably realize the importance of the Chinese here.
 written by David, April 25, 2008
I think Najib, his wife Rosmah, and his pal Razak involved in this killing. It is all about greed, lust and anger. Najib & Razak love beutiful Altantuya because of sex, Altantuya likes their money and power, Rosmah knows her husband deed, called the police force to kill her. What the hell, Malaysia is corrupted, It never grow to become a developed country because of these bastard governing our country. I saw this Najib guy in one of the event, I think he will never be a good leader. He want people to respect him, but he is not respecting others, his wife is even worse, an arrogant woman.
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Razak, Harun and Ishmael were implicated in organizing the May 13th riot and the Special Branch had all the evident to take the necessary action and was only waiting for Tunku's approval before carrying out the arrest. Unfortunately that was not forthcoming. As they say, the rest is history.
That was the greatest damage inflicted on the Malay's physic on their path to advancement and Nationhood. That open the way for exploitation and manipulation by a group of "Malay" Colonists that keep drumming into their heads that they are not capable, backward and in a sense useless!
They stripped the Malays of their pride, dignity and confidence and made them angrily defensive of their "rights" while most of them are still waiting at the wing for that wonderful day. This group of “elites” (colonial) were suppose to protect the rights of the Malays but is always very careful not to point out to them that while their (the ordinary Malays) per capita is but US$2,500 their cousins in Singapore and unprotected by UMNO are getting US$30,000. For instance? Well the starting pay of a Malay policeman in Malaysia is RM650 (US$180) per month while the starting pay of his cousin is $S4,500 in the Singapore police force.
The question now is whether the sins of the father will be visited on his son. Only time will tell. His son definitely will not have the opportunity to act as the assistant administrative officer like his father for the enemy (Japanese). But in his own right he is still a great player! His ill begotten wife is on par with him, it seems and selfishly and greedily racking in all the corrupt money under the Malaysian national services scheme. After all not many young Malays will die in the National Service.
Not like the act committed by hubby that put the lives of 200 to 300 Malay Naval personals at risk when he recently purchase an ex-British World War 1 destroyer originated from South Africa. The boat scrapped by the South African Navy was bought by Amin Shah, repainted and finally sold to the Malaysian Navy and all to the credit (bank account) of Najib. One would dread to imagine how that old iron tub would perform when pitted against a modern vessel in a conflict!
Well Najib is a very sexy man and rather none discriminating and would bed any comely women that require his help or favour. It is conceivably possible that fetus be blown up and burn to conceal the evident (DNA) of his shared indiscretion. What is US$ Billions in corruption on planes and boats? All can be forgiven if the loots are shared.