“Nooryana should quit as MATRADE director as her inexperience, family ties make a mockery of PMX’s anti-graft drive”
It is difficult to reconcile her taking an anti-corruption oath at MATRADE with her family’s legacy of corruption.
Corruption Watch
THE recent appointment of Nooryana Najwa Najib, the eldest daughter of disgraced former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak as director and board member of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) raises serious concerns about the integrity of Malaysia’s commitment towards combating corruption.
Nooryana’s directorship – made official by Najib’s lackey and MATRADE chairman Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican on Oct 16 – comes at a time when the nation is still recovering from the adversity of her father’s 1MDB scandal which has both financially crippled and has almost permanently tarnished Malaysia’s reputation.
Inadvertently, this has left many citizens disillusioned with current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s apparently weak Madani unity government.
Nooryana’s troubling legacy
Nooryana’s directorship at the nation’s premier trade agency feels like a slap in the face to all Malaysians, especially those who have long demanded accountability and transparency in the 1MDB scandal.
It is difficult to reconcile her taking an anti-corruption oath at MATRADE with her family’s legacy of corruption.
The optics of appointing Nooryana – who has openly expressed disappointment over her father’s legal situation – are troubling.
This move appears to be a classic case of nepotism, undermining the very principles that the current administration claims to uphold.
How can we trust that MATRADE will operate with integrity when its board includes someone so closely tied to one of the largest financial scandals in history? This appointment sends a message that connections matter more than qualifications or ethical standards.
Moreover, Nooryana’s prior involvement in discussions about her father’s legal battles raises further questions about her commitment to anti-corruption principles.
Exhibit A against Nooryana is the 2009 photograph above-which was taken on a luxury yacht in the South of France which captures the moment Nooryana witnessed her parents and 1MDB mastermind Low Taek Jho a.k.a. Jho Low illegally plot to exploit the 1MDB-PetroSaudi joint venture for millions of dollars.
In the photo (main image above), Nooryana (in yellow) had posed opposite the wanted fugitive Jho Low who is currently hiding overseas from two Interpol Red Alert arrest notices.
Public sentiment
If she knew of the controversies surrounding 1MDB yet still chose to accept the MATRADE director role, then this suggests a troubling disregard for the implications of her family’s actions.
Her presence on the MATRADE board could easily be interpreted as UMNO’s attempt to normalise corruption within government agencies.
Malaysians’ reaction to Nooryana’s MATRADE appointment has been overwhelmingly negative. Many Malaysians are rightfully outraged that someone with such direct ties to corruption is being placed in a position of influence within a government agency.
This appointment contradicts the reformist agenda championed by Anwar and risks alienating citizens who are already sceptical about their leaders’ intentions.
Nooryana’s Instagram posts that bemoan the justice that has come down on her parents has often read like the immature, delusional speculations of someone who still fails to understand how normal, everyday Malaysians live and interact in society.
“You can paint a man black but Allah knows,” Nooryana complained after one of Najib’s many arrests. Another post about Najib: “No one is kind, loving, and gentle as this man.” (No one?)
In conclusion, Nooryana’s MATRADE appointment is not just a corrupt decision by Najib satellites like Reezal Merican but a reflection of Malaysia’s on-going struggle with corruption and accountability.
By allowing individuals with direct connections to corruption scandals to hold significant government positions, we risk undermining the very reforms that are essential for restoring public trust.
It is time for Malaysia to prioritise integrity over connections, hence ensuring that those who serve in public office are held to the highest ethical standards. She should resign.
As the luxury yacht photo reveals, it was very unfortunate for Malaysians to have Nooryana and her entitled dynasty in power.
It will take many years before the world respects Malaysia again. The country’s brand and reputation have already weakened. But for now, Nooryana should just listen to what Malaysia is telling her: Step down. Grow up. – Oct 24, 2024
Corruption Watch is a reader of FocusM.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
