Zaid: Malays concerned about whisky drinkers, not 1MDB
Malays do not regard honesty as a premium quality for leaders to have, so long as the leaders share in the spoils.
(Free Malaysia Today) – If Malays find that their leaders are drinking whisky or wine or do not go to Friday prayers, said former de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim, they will march the streets and demand those leaders to resign.
However, he added, it’s a different matter when it comes to stealing, whether from the state or someone else.
“Malays, generally speaking, do not feel the sense of anger or revulsion against leaders who are corrupt, or who steal from state coffers.”
“Taking money from unauthorized sources is something they can tolerate because it’s already part of their lifestyle. Malays under the New Economic Policy (NEP) cannot tell when things are theirs or belong to the state.”
Zaid charged that Malays do not regard honesty as a premium quality for leaders to have, so long as the leaders share in the spoils.
“Stealing occurs at various levels in Malay society; only the amount differs from person to person.”
The former de facto Law Minister was explaining why Najib Abdul Razak was still riding high as Prime Minister despite being embroiled in the greatest financial scandal the country has ever seen. “Nothing much will change my friends.”
“Why change Najib at all when the chances of his successor, whether from Umno, PAS or PKR, will have the same traits, will steal from public coffers, will tolerate corrupt political allies; will enrich his friends and cronies, but will share some of the spoils with a very forgiving rakyat?”
