Is Najib’s Apology Linked to New Laws about ‘House Arrest’?
A Reflection of a Flawed System
I still remember a policeman waving me to the side of the road, insisting that I had crossed double white lines at a busy junction in Ipoh. I told him there were no white lines and that I had not broken any traffic laws. When I asked for his serial number and name, he backed off. His failure to issue me with an on-the-spot fine did not stop me from writing to the police chief complaining about the policeman’s false accusation.
A Pattern of Inconsistencies
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s apology for 1MDB sounds just as hollow and insincere as the police chief’s apology. How dare Najib apologise and yet claim to be innocent of the 1MDB scandal? More importantly, why is he apologizing only now, six years after he was first charged with seven counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering, and embezzlement?
A Glimpse into the Mindset
Many Malaysians claim that his two years in Kajang prison may have given him ample time to reflect on his misdeeds. But the answer is probably linked to the announcement about drafting new laws pertaining to house arrest, which was quietly sneaked in during Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s tabling of the 2025 budget. Umno will have prompted the house arrest agenda as they have always wanted Najib pardoned and released. Did DAP and Amanah or any of the Borneo parties agree?
A Family Ties and Unwavering Support
None of Najib’s family members believe him to be guilty. They claim he was not given a fair trial. The misappropriation of 1MDB funds was not an overnight occurrence. It took years to develop and should have been nipped in the bud. Either Najib was complicit, or too trusting of his aides, or too daft to realise that he was being manipulated and conned, or it was all of the above.
The Warning Signs Were There
The warning signs were there. Tampering with the audit. The missed payments for some of the US$11 billion which 1MDB owed to banks and bondholders. Then came the report by the Wall Street Journal about a paper trail of US$700 million from the fund to Najib’s personal bank accounts.
A Flawed Leadership
In his feeble apology, Najib denied the role he had played in 1MDB, claimed that he knew nothing about the swindle of money from the sovereign fund; although he said that he had mishandled the debacle, he claimed to have been duped. He apportioned blame on his former trusted aide, Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, and Patrick Mahoney and Tarek Obaid, two executives from Petrosaudi.
A Question of Credibility
He also said that once the irregularities of 1MDB had come under public scrutiny, he had initiated various investigations but in the end, was “inclined to believe the explanations by the board and management.” So, did he ignore the conclusions and outcome of the investigations, but only accept what the board and management wanted him to believe? If that were the case, what is the point of conducting the many investigations as they would be a waste of time and resources?
Conclusion
Najib’s apology may have been borne out of necessity to placate the public and convince naïve politicians to rally behind him in his quest of a royal pardon and release. If Najib were to be placed under house arrest, how would the nation react?
FAQs
* What is the purpose of drafting new laws pertaining to house arrest?
* Is Najib’s apology genuine or just a ploy to gain public sympathy?
* What are the implications of placing Najib under house arrest?
* How will the nation react to such a move?
* Are there any plans to address the 1MDB scandal in the near future?