Najib, a tightrope he treads
Despite his repeated denials, swearing on the Quran, and the authorities finding no concerete links, the spectre refuses to be exorcised, no thanks to the opposition which never fails to remind the people not to forget that macabre episode.
By RK Anand, Free Malaysia Today
A politician thinks of the next election, a statesman thinks of the next generation, said James Freeman Clarke.
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who inherited a bruised and tattered coalition from his predecessor, has just celebrated his 365th day in office.
Even before he sat behind the desk that he was groomed for since his youth, Najib was haunted by the spectre of a beautiful woman, so brutally murdered.
Despite his repeated denials, swearing on the Quran, and the authorities finding no concerete links, the spectre refuses to be exorcised, no thanks to the opposition which never fails to remind the people not to forget that macabre episode.
Najib’s reputation was dealt a blow, and no coffeeshop chatter about the premier is complete without mention of that lady who was blown up, and how the blood trail leading to Putrajaya was supposedly covered up.
Then again, the public has always been insatiable when it comes to conspiracy theories, no matter how far-fetched it might be.
A media muzzled by their political paymasters as well as a police force and judiciary perceived as being under the thumb of the government, ensure that more coal is shovelled into the furnace of speculation.
C4 explosives and seared flesh aside, Najib had, like his predecessor who promised to net the big fish swimming in the ocean of corruption, made many grand promises after taking oath of office.
Among them is to foster greater unity and a sense of oneness.
However, his critics claim that he has yet to make good on his words, apart from some cosmetic changes, a dab of lip gloss here, and a shade of mascara there.
Even his 1Malaysia brainchild is on the verge of becoming a victim of infanticide, with the opposition casting aspersions on who the real father is. According to Anwar Ibrahim, the DNA matches that of an US-company conceived, born in Israel, concept.
Soon after that, another onslaught was unleashed, with Najib’s deputy finding himself trapped between a rock and a hard place with the challenge – race or nationality first?
