Utusan editor defends Najib’s golf trip with Obama during flood crisis, says proves ‘leadership’

(Malay Mail Online) – Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Christmas Eve golfing session with US president Barack Obama in Hawaii even as Malaysia faced its worst monsoon flooding in decades this week proved the high regard in which the prime minister is held by the world superpower, an Utusan Malaysia editor said today.

Zulkiflee Bakar, an editor of the Umno-owned daily alleged that Najib’s golf trip with Obama was heavily politicised by the federal opposition, and that they failed to see the importance of the trip- proof that Obama respected and admired the PM’s leadership.

“If they (opposition) could think maturely they would see that Najib did not travel thousands of miles just to play golf with Obama.

“He (PM Najib) went to US soil on Obama’s invitation to discuss regional security issues and a host of other matters,” Zulkiflee wrote in his column in the Malay broadsheet.

The Utusan editor stressed the US president’s invitation to Najib should be viewed as an “honour”, and that it was not “normal” for Obama to mix business with pleasure- playing golf while discussing important matters.

“The invitation itself showed US’s respect towards Najib’s leadership,” he added.

“It is also not easy to be acknowledged by a big power like the US especially since some members of the opposition have been saying bad things about Malaysia to people Washington.

“Before he left for the US, Najib spent time overseeing flood victims in Kuantan, but was this mentioned by the opposition? Of course not!” Zulkiflee said.

Najib has announced plans to return from the US today to oversee disaster relief efforts here, saying he is “deeply concerned” by the country’s worsening flood conditions.

His announcement comes on the back of the hundreds of angry responses from Malaysians over social media to photographs showing the prime minister golfing with US President Barack Obama somewhere in Hawaii.

Najib said, however, that during his time abroad, he had been in constant contact with the authorities back home.

“I am deeply concerned by the floods. I feel for the people who have lost their homes, and the families who have lost loved ones.

“While I have been away, I have been in constant contact with the National Security Council and the National Disaster Management and Relief Committee, who have assured me that they are doing everything they can to help those who have been affected. But I want to see the situation for myself and be with the people,” he said in a brief statement from his office yesterday.

According to the statement, the prime minister who is expected home today, will touch down in Kelantan first where he is expected to chair a meeting and receive briefings from the NSC and the disaster relief committee, the state government and local emergency responders.

“The Prime Minister will also meet people affected by the flooding and discuss new measures to support those who have been displaced,” the statement said.

Malaysians have been attacking Najib on social media, criticising the leader for being absent from the country during its worst flood crisis in decades.

After the photograph of Najib teeing off with Obama surfaced, angry messages began to flood the prime minister’s Facebook page, with most calling for the 61-year-old leader to cancel his holiday and return home.

Shortly after, an announcement was posted on Najib’s Facebook page to say that Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had been tasked to head the disaster relief committee and that Putrajaya would extend all possible aid to the flood victims.

The missive did not placate Malaysians, however, who continued to demand that Najib return home.

Not all were critical of the prime minister’s trip abroad, however, with some defending Najib against the criticism.

At 8am today, the number of total flood evacuees has gone up to 105,812 with the most evacuees in Terengganu at 35,094 followed by Pahang 31,459 and Kelantan 31,441.

Perak also has 6,093 evacuees, Perlis 209, Johor 1,104 and Kedah 13 people.

Five in Kelantan and two in Terengganu have died in the floods, according to data from the National Security Defence Council’s website this morning.