The true reason behind Malaysia’s travails

After six decades in power, sins of corruption, arrogance and greed block answers to one simple murder

COMMENT

J.D. Lovrenciear

What is that one singular thread that can perhaps best explain the current political situation where Malaysia’s heart-rate is missing a few beats?

To honestly and courageously answer that question we must remove the colored or tinted lens of political patronage and party allegiance that we wear; put aside all self interest for the moment; and do not even court for a second the fear of losing political power.

Is Malaysia not caught in the cruel fangs of long years of corruption and layers of arrogance and bottomless greed?

Take the Altantuya murder. This was not a straight forward murder. Otherwise why is Sirul holed away in Australia? Otherwise why does the prime minister have to go on air with a pre-recorded and trimmed interview in response to the pounce made by Tun Mahathir, eight long years after the gruesome killing?

Yes the court delivered a verdict, but the case never died, never faded from the court of public opinion despite stern warnings from the top-most policeman of the country.

Why? Because it is no ordinary straight forward case! Razak Baginda, do you hear this?

Instead, today we have to listen to so many individuals coming forward to clear the prime minister’s name. Why? Because it is no straight forward case and the answers are not convincing either.

In fact public perception is refusing to sway an inch in favour of the prime minsiter. Do his supporters realise that, too?

Why is it so difficult to pin down this case unlike so many mystery murders solved in the past?

While we pause to reflect, consider the 1MDB case.

It is unbelievable that so many people are rushing to defend the prime minister. Why? Because this, too, does not have any straight answers and is getting more complicated with every expose.

Come to think of it, would Tun Daim, Tun Musa Hitam, Tengku Razaleigh and Tun Dr Mahathir himself risk their reputations by getting their concerns finally registered in the public domain?

If we allowed common sense to prevail, the actions and counter actions from Najib and his entourage would in all probability go something like this:

On the Altantuya case, from day one, the leader of this nation could have ensured that no stone was left unturned. In the first place he should have had the wisdom to not even volunteer to assure Razak Baginda that he would speak to certain quarters to help and that in the meantime Razak Baginda should stay calm.

But that did not happen.

And as the case got rolling on, getting bigger as it went down the slope, people were shocked to learn that not only was the poor girl shot at close quarters but had been blown away with no ordinary Molotov cocktail but the highly vaulted C4 explosives strapped to her almost lifeless body.

What kind of killing is this? Plain murder?

The question that Najib’s supporters are missing is: why can’t the leader of this nation wield his powers to ensure that the case is resolved beyond any doubt, and save the nation from further pain, disgrace and humiliation, not to mention the animosity and politicking being spun from it?

Why put a sixty-year old political party at risk over one ‘straight-forward’ murder?

Likewise for the 1MDB. All that Najib needs to do is resign from his post as Finance Minister and let due diligence take its course. By all means, appoint the world’s best brains to investigate independently and show proof that Najib is doing a brilliant economic and financial miracle through 1MDB.

That is all to it.

Then no one will quarrel with him. There will be no need to canvas for support. Support will come once the public is convinced. The court of public opinion is no fool. The global community of watchdogs is no dummy either.

Even without the World Wide Web and Internet, Watergate did take place and spill into the public domain.

So to all those jumping on the bandwagon to defend Najib or solicit support, please pause and ask these very basic questions: Why is Najib in such a spot if he has been doing his job superbly for the best interest of forward looking Malaysians?

Do not counter by saying that it is the Tun or the opposition dragging him down the dirt track. That is akin to saying that evil is superior to truth.

There is only one truth to the travails of this nation: our uncontrolled corruption, laced with sheer arrogance and greed.

We have not convincingly demonstrated our will to fight, plug and kill corruption, arrogance and greed despite having had one single political party ruling the country for nearly six decades and despite having witnessed how other nations have fought and are winning the battle, with promising hope.

J.D. Lovrenciear is an FMT reader