Dr M stopped short of asking Najib to resign, says veteran newsman

In his latest round of criticism against Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has merely stopped short of calling for the prime minister's resignation, a former editor said today.

Datuk A. Kadir Jasin (pic), writing in his blog, said Dr Mahathir’s criticism of Najib's pet corporation – 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) – and its massive debts was just a way to “get to Najib”.

"It is like the Malay proverb  ‘pukul anak sindir menantu’, which means (if) you can’t beat Mohd Najib you beat his favourite undertaking," the former editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times wrote.

Last month, Dr Mahathir said he withdrew his support for Najib as his criticism had “fallen on deaf ears”.

In his latest attack on the prime minister, Dr Mahathir had merely stopped short of doing the ultimate, which was to call for his resignation, observed Kadir.

"That was what he did with Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the aftermath of the 2008 General Elections.

"Within months Abdullah was put out to the pasture and in came Dr Mahathir's ultimate choice – Mohd Najib Abdul Razak… the wheel of time keeps turning," Kadir wrote.

Dr Mahathir, after a book launch yesterday, told reporters that his comments on Najib were not hints aimed at making him resign. He said that leaders needed to be criticised when they do wrong.

Kadir added that for someone who loved to banter, Dr Mahathir must find Najib's “not-so elegant” silence frustrating.

"In short, Najib is saying, Dr Mahathir can say whatever he likes, but I am the PM and I do whatever I like," Kadir wrote.

In his blog two days ago, Dr Mahathir had criticised the controversial government-owned investment company started by Najib.

The former prime minister said 1MDB had spent billions of ringgit buying power plants at above-market prices from Genting and Ananda Krishnan.

Dr Mahathir also lamented 1MDB’s massive debt of around RM38 billion after just five years of operations as the country’s sovereign wealth fund.

Last month, Dr Mahathir lamented that his feedback to Najib was not heeded.

“I have tried to give my views to him directly, which are also the views of many people who have met me," he wrote in his blog.

The former prime minister had also said then that Najib was “no better” than his predecessor Abdullah Badawi.

- TMI