A scrutiny of Najib’s carefully-scripted frivolous apology: Making an apology that never was
DISGRACED former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s recent non-apology regarding his multi-billion-ringgit 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Bhd) scandal has stirred up much conversation in Malaysia, particularly about whether his apology is genuine or otherwise.
(Focus Malaysia) – A closer look at his choice of words reveals that Najib actually never apologised: his statement is a non-apology but a deception in disguise. Worse, his statement is filled to the brim with lazy excuses and evasions:
Breakdown of Najib’s non-apology
- Conditional regret: This is when Najib said, “It pains me to know that the 1MDB debacle happened under my watch”.
At first glance, this sounds like an apology but it’s conditional. He doesn’t take responsibility for the actions that led to the scandal; instead, he focuses on how he feels about it. This approach shifts the emphasis from accountability to his emotional response.
- Deflection of responsibility: Throughout his statement, Najib insists he was misled by others, especially Jho Low (fugitive financier Low Taek Jho).
He further claimed, “I was advised and honestly believed at the time that the funds I received were political donations from Saudi Arabia”. By portraying himself as a victim of deception, Najib deflects blame onto others involved in the scandal rather than owning up to his own role.
- Maintaining innocence: Najib then asserted, “Being held legally responsible for things that I did not initiate or knowingly enable is unfair to me”. This claim undermines the sincerity of his apology.
Instead of acknowledging any wrongdoing, he focuses on how he feels wronged by the legal system, reinforcing his narrative of innocence.
- Political manipulation: He also mentioned that he has already faced political punishment for his actions, stating, “I have already been punished politically.”
This serves to frame his on-going legal issues as politically unjust rather than as accountability for his corrupt decisions.
- No specificity: His non-apology lacks any specific acknowledgment of what exactly he is apologising beyond a general regret about the scandal itself.
Phrases like “wretched and unconscionable shenanigans” are vague and don’t directly address the specific actions or decisions he made that contributed to the mess.
- “Hindsight” regrets: Najib deceptively states that with “the benefit of hindsight”, he should have acted differently when suspicions about 1MDB arose.
This suggests that while he may regret certain choices now, it doesn’t mean he takes full responsibility for them at the time they were made.
Public reactions
Malaysians’ reactions to Najib’s non-apology have been largely negative. Malaysians view it as insincere and more of a dishonest ploy to escape legal consequences (and perhaps upgrade from prison time to house arrest at home).
They also highlight the apparent weakness of the “Madani” unity government of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who announced that he “welcomed (as opposed to “accepted”) Najib’s non-apology.
As lawyers such as Latheefa Koya pointed out, “PM has no business and no authority to accept such an apology. Not his job. Since Najib maintains innocence, Anwar’s acceptance condones the crime. It emboldens the corrupt, makes a mockery of the courts, undermines the MACC (. Is this the prelude to releasing Najib on house arrest?”
Najib’s clownish non-apology highlights his decades-long pattern of being as court judges stated, “a national embarrassment”.
By focusing on his “feelings” over his direct responsibility for his 1MDB scandal, deflecting blame and maintaining his false claims of innocence, Najib’s statement raises even more questions about his sincerity than it answers.
As the long-delayed legal proceedings against Najib continue, Malaysians can conclude that Najib’s non-apology is more about escaping accountability than about showing remorse.
Corruption Watch
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
