Mana lebih jantan: Najib atau Mahathir?

Shahbudin: Unlike Mahathir, Najib prefers to sue his critics

Joe Fernandez

 | July 22, 2015

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad can take on critics without resorting to the Courts

KUALA LUMPUR: It remains to be seen, noted a political analyst, whether Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will proceed with legal action against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) for its report on July 3 alleging that nearly USD700 million entered his personal banking accounts with AmBank Islamic private banking services before the last General Election in 2013. “If he proceeds, it will be the sixth time that he has sued someone as Prime Minister.”

“By contrast, his predecessors Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Badawi never sued anyone as that would be using the Court to shut them up. They could always rebut their critics.”

The 14-day notice from his lawyers seeking further and better particulars on the WSJ report ended on Tuesday without any response from the newspaper, noted Shahbudin Husin. “It’s clear that the WSJ will only state their case in Court on the issue of the USD700 million.”

The analyst reads the WSJ’s non-response as an open challenge to Najib and he has to consider whether he wants to take it up or otherwise. “As a Bugis warrior, one whose bravery knows no bounds, the legal action against the WSJ should not be delayed. No need to wait until the earth has rotated two more times.”

Najib’s lawyers it appears, said the analyst, are waiting for further instructions on the matter from their client. “Everything now hinges on Najib. The world is waiting to see whether he has real Bugis blood or otherwise.”

Drawing on an analogy, said the analyst, being a head of government or leader was like building a house by the seaside. “It’s normal to see the waves and strong winds and sometimes they carry as far as the house. The sounds can be soothing and at the same time relaxing.”

“Is it worthwhile having a house by the seaside if there are no waves and no sounds? Something would be missing.”

In short, he said, those who build their houses by the seaside should keep in mind that the structure must be sturdy, bearing in mind the challenges posed by the environment which may sometimes bring sudden havoc and cause damage.

Shahbudin was getting to his point that Mahathir and Najib are a study in contrasts. “Mahathir has the capacity, capability and ability to answer his critics. He has been accused, even during his time as Prime Minister, of having amassed extraordinary wealth, having lost government monies on various misadventures and the like.”

He was also accused of corruption, cronyism, and collusion, recalled the analyst. “He was even labelled the Great Pharaoh, the Great Oppressor.”

Mahathir could reply to each and every accusation and allegation, without resorting to the Courts, said Shahbudin. “This cannot be said to be the same in the case of Najib.”

Najib in contrast, pointed out the analyst, has sued Malaysiakini, Harakahdaily, and various Opposition leaders including Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, and DAP Perak Chairman Nga Kor Ming, in an attempt to shut them up.