Rupanya Najib Nak Lepaskan Tengkok Sendiri

Najib’s about-turn on Sedition Act for his survival

Shane Fuentes

 | November 27, 2014

The Umno leader has betrayed the cause of wasatiyyah and his initiative on the Global Movement of Moderates, the subject of his three speeches to the UN General Assembly.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP elder statesman Lim Kit Siang is convinced that Umno President and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak did an about-turn on the Sedition Act to pre-empt moves by extremists and right-wingers in his own party who may be poised to oust him from power on this and other issues.

“It was heart-rending to see Najib succumbing to threats by rightists and extremists in Umno and Umno-sponsored NGOs,” said Lim, also DAP Parliamentary Leader and Gelang Patah MP, in a statement. “He has become hostage to elements which are opposed to the policy of moderation and the Global Movement of Moderates (GMM).”

“He buckled under pressure to renounce the repeal of the Sedition Act which he had promised two years ago in July 2012.”

Najib’s hurried presentation in Parliament of the White Paper on the Islamic threat, alleged Lim, was to camouflage his betrayal of the cause of wasatiyyah and his initiative on the Global Movement of Moderates, the subject of his three speeches to the United Nations General Assembly since Sept 2010.

“The rightists, extremists and the opponents of the campaign of wasatiyyah have cause to celebrate,” said Lim.

“They made it very clear that they will be drawing the line in the sand at the 68th Umno General Assembly i.e. whether to tolerate or topple Najib as Prime Minister and Umno President before his terms were up.”

An ex-Umno Minister did not mince his words when he warned a fortnight ago that Najib’s days were numbered if he continued to disappoint the rightists and extremists, he pointed out, hinting at “another candidate” already waiting on the sidelines and ready to pounce on Najib should the unacceptable happen.

The Umno General Assemblies have confirmed the worst fears, added Lim. “Instead of becoming more inclusive and less exclusive after 57 years of governing Malaysia through six Umno Prime Ministers, Umno leaders and delegates have become more exclusive and less inclusive.”

DAP is becoming a more inclusive and less exclusive party in contrast to Umno and Umno Youth, under Khairy Jamaluddin, undergoing the passage of becoming a more exclusive and less inclusive party.

“It is quite obvious who is being exposed as being truly chauvinist, racialist and being more exclusive and less inclusive in the sixth decade of nation-building,” said Lim.

“Khairy revealed his worries that Umno is fighting a lost cause in the battle for the hearts and minds of the Gen Y when he lamented that Malay youths were joining DAP.”

Khairy said the Malays are under siege and the time for patience is over, noted Lim.

“No doubt MCA Youth Chief would declare that the Chinese are under siege and that the time for patience is over.”

“MIC Youth Chief would also say that the Indians are under siege and that the time for patience is over.”

The screening, during the Umno General Assembly, of slides of the bloody May 13 race riots, he alleged, confirmed Umno’s role and motive in producing the Umno May 13 bogey film Tanda Putera at a cost of RM5 million in public money in the run-up to the 13th General Elections in May last year.