(The Diplomat) Marrying the demands of international diplomacy with the political realities of home is a tough ask for most countries and their foreign ministries. The two can be a difficult fit, as Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has found out all too well.
Some back home seem determined to provide an unwanted backdrop for his whistle-stop European tour designed to shore-up his country’s vastly improving relations with the West and bring in some much needed foreign investment.
However, echoes of the Bersih movement and their demands for electoral reform have dogged Najib and his entourage from London to Rome, while the prime minister’s own supporters have provided the nastiest thorn in his political side with wild and unsubstantiated claims of unwanted foreign meddling in domestic affairs.
Much of the initial fault lies with Najib. He declared the July 9 Bersih rallies in Kuala Lumpur and across the country illegal and failed to muzzle his own party, the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), and fringe elements threatening what should have been a simple and peaceful march.
The police moved in with a heavy hand. Protesters were baton charged, tear gassed and beaten. People wearing yellow, the colour synonymous with the Bersih movement were arrested.
Najib defended the police action, deeming it necessary to keep the peace while attempting to demonize what was as much a mums and dads rally calling for clean elections as an opposition attempt to topple the government.
Playing to a home audience, his government quickly blamed prejudices in the international media for the negative portrayal that made headlines around the world, and Najib was probably hoping the mess would be quietly forgotten as he packed his bags for England.
No such luck.
Supporters of Bersih, which means clean in Malay, in London booed Najib as he went to Downing Street for lunch with his British counterpart David Cameron. He and First Lady Rosmah Mansor later met with the Queen, who surprised all by wearing yellow against a backdrop of yellow flowers.
The choice of outfit from such an astute and experienced head of state was widely interpreted as a sympathetic sign of support for Bersih, although the Queen’s dress sense seemed to escape the attention of fashionistas on state-linked newspapers in Malaysia.
Read more at: http://the-diplomat.com/asean-beat/2011/07/19/najib-the-queen-and-the-pope/
written by NSTPravda, July 21, 2011 09:03:00
.. now that I have been "yellowed" by the kafir Queen and ble$$ed by the infidel Pope, I feel really invigorated to come back with my FLOM Ro$mak (with her new collection of birkin bags) to be the ta-Bersih Cho$en 1Leader of this UMNOland. Dollar akbar!
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written by garfunky, July 20, 2011 20:14:27
Three monkeys walked into an Evolution Chamber.
The first one was carrying a Lotus flower he picked up along the way, and as he walked in he was instantly transformed into a human, imbued with the purity of the lotus. He went on to become the Pope.
The second monkey was holding a Gladiolus flower, and was also transformed into a human, imbued with strength of character. She went on to become the Queen.
The last monkey was carrying a Bunga Tahi Ayam....so....I think we all know what happened then...
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written by ibabonma, July 20, 2011 16:13:19
Had Najis maintained his first wife, he would have been a better PM now and 1 Malaysians will surely like his first wife.... unlike the present.
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written by Ben Nordin, July 20, 2011 15:43:33
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written by StevenO, July 20, 2011 14:45:23
suggesting that foreign Jewish groups might use Bersih to interfere with the country
Najis personally invited the Jews to run the country for him through APCO and a computer company specialising in gathering intelligence got the contract for installing the computer system in Bukit Aman! And, they are paid handsomely for the privilege of screwing Malaysian because those minister who award those contracts received kickbacks, as usual!
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written by eloofk, July 20, 2011 14:45:13
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written by Apek, July 20, 2011 14:39:19
Too little too late Najib.
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written by StevenO, July 20, 2011 14:32:12
bring in some much needed foreign investment.
Only stupid numb skulls would solicit for foreign investment in the West at this time!! Don't he realised that the West are all broke, practically bankrupt? Many of the West are just borrowing money to pay their interest because of over spending by corrupt politicians!!
Seeking foreign is just an excuse! Real reason is to go on an all expenses paid holiday on the piggy back of the Rakyat. Wouldn't be surprise if it's all Rosmah's idea, cause she need to do some shopping in London and Rome. Maybe have to skip Paris for this trip because of Altantuya's ghost hovering all over Paris due to the on going submarine trial!!
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written by arazak, July 20, 2011 14:01:49
For a party that is "rotten to the core", they deserve this stinking image from the world over!
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The police moved in with a heavy hand. Protesters were baton charged, tear gassed and beaten. People wearing yellow, the colour synonymous with the Bersih movement were arrested.
HE SCREWED UP BIG TIME AND NOW, HIS ENEMIES FROM WITHIN ARE GETTING SIDE SCREWS.