Anwar: Ousting Najib without reforms only good for cronies

(Malay Mail Online) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s bid to remove Datuk Seri Najib Razak but leaving the current system of administration intact will only satisfy select “cronies” while bringing little benefit to the public, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today.

In a message conveyed by his lawyers, the jailed opposition icon said it would mean little if Najib is replaced as prime minister while systemic corruption and abuse were not eradicated.

“We have gone through the futile process of changing leaders, but leaving the corrupt and obsolete system intact. We do not want piecemeal solutions but a serious commitment to reform and the end of corruption,” Anwar said in his message.

“A Mahathir-led removal of Najib, without real reform, will only satisfy some cronies; it will do nothing to bring about real change for the people.

“There must be comprehensive change in the governance and administration of the country,” he added.

Najib is currently embroiled in a multi-billion ringgit financial scandal, in which he allegedly received US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) in his personal bank accounts said to have been funnelled through 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and other government agencies, according to an expose by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Prior to that, he faced sustained pressure from his detractors — chiefly former prime minister Dr Mahathir — who demanded that he quit over controversial deals that lead to 1MDB accumulating a RM42 billion debt pile over six years.

Anwar today said it is incumbent on Putrajaya to reform key institutions such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, the judiciary and the police, all of which he accused of having “failed to stem the tide of corruption and abuse of power”.

He also repeated the call made by electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 to reform the electoral system, and also demanded for the repeal of the colonial-era Sedition Act.

“Removing Datuk Seri Najib as prime minister is not enough for the Rakyat.

“The BN must take full responsibility for the current state of affairs. Their corruption, abuse of power, arrogance and appallingly poor governance has brought Malaysia to this state.

“The utter collapse of the Greek economy is a warning of what can yet happen to our beloved country,” he said.