Najib’s 1-year Tenure – ‘Trying to be all things to all people’
Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad
To say that the Prime Minister Najib Razak had an onerous task when he took the helm 1 year ago is an understatement. Garguantum may equally not suffice to enumerate his task. Looking back, almost a year later, it was indeed a tumultuous one.
After his immediate predecessor was craftily cajoled to vacate Putrajaya earlier than scheduled, on the 3 April 2009 to be exact, the self-fulfilling prophecy of the much-hyped RAHMAN mantra, almost ‘destined’ him to be inaugurated the 6th premier of Malaysia.
However, what may not be so obvious before, has now come back to be ‘bomeeranging’ him incessantly. Being the last of RAHMAN, he now faces the possibility of being resigned into history book as the man who leads one of the world’s longest-governing parties to defeat. That surely must be a nightmare beyond description, both extremely traumatizing and unduly humiliating at the same time. That alone should spur and propel him to give it all.
Overly confident of his imminent takeover from Pak Lah, Najib should have planned well ahead. Similarly would be his better-half and the really-wannabe-number-1-Lady of the nation. In rigorous anticipation of his premiership, one would have thought that Najib is more than prepared to assume the challenge of leading an almost ‘A Failed Nation’.
This writer has, time and again, in the last 1 year given Najib all the avenues and benefits of doubt, to vindicate his many claims and placate all critiques against him. He was in total control. So it seemed, for being the number one at least.He had only himself to overcome. He had only his fear and anxiety to conquer. He has simply to exude extreme courage and undivided commitment for the wide-ranging reforms he intended to do. He wasn’t challenged and continuously hounded by Tun M, like what Pak Lah was subjected to.
After 365 days, his performance is for all to judge. Being seemingly fair is certainly one thing. Being truly honest is even more difficult in this case. In all honesty and fairness, this writer puts a verdict of being least impressed by Najib’s performance. He now elaborates his judgment.
