Mirror, mirror, is Najib fairest of ‘em all?

FMT Staff

Former US ambassador to Malaysia John Mallot tells Najib to take a “long look in the mirror” with regard to his 1Malaysia concept.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak should do some soul-searching if he is serious about achieving his 1Malaysia concept, which is hinged upon faireness to all races.

According to former US ambassador to Malaysia John Mallot, the prime minister must take a “long look in the mirror” to reflect on his goal.

In a commentary penned for the Asian Wall Street Journal, Mallot said racial tensions in Malaysia had hit a high note, resonationg louder than the bloody clashes in 1969 which left hundreds dead.

“Despite the government’s new catchphrase, racial and religious tensions are higher today than when Najib took office in 2009.

“Indeed, they are worse than at any time since 1969, when at least 200 people died in racial clashes between the majority Malay and minority Chinese communities,” he wrote.

Mallot, known for his critical views of the Barisan Nasional government, had accused Najib’s administration of “tolerating, and in some cases provoking ethnic factionalism through words and actions”.

As examples, he cited the infamous “cowhead” protest and the case of where a Najib aide, Hardev Kaur, had asked that crucifixes not be displayed when the premier visited the archbishop’s residence during Christmas.

“Ms Kaur later insisted that she ‘had made it clear that it was a request and not an instruction’, as if any Malaysian could say no to a request from the prime minister’s office,” said Mallot.

He also noted how Najib’s cousin, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, had defended the Muslim protesters who paraded with a freshly severed cow’s head, an animal considered sacred to Hindus, to object the proposed relocation of a Hindu temple to their neighbourhood in Shah Alam.

Mallot also opened fire on Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for questioning the patriotism of Malaysian Chinese and Indians with regard to their aversion to joining the armed forces.

Targeting Utusan Malaysia, he said the Umno-owned daily fanned racial hatred for constanly attacking Malaysian Chinese and for “suggesting that parliamentarian Teresa Kok be killed”.

Taking a toll on the economy

Mallot pointed out that racism was bleeding Malaysia of its human capital, with some 500,000 Malaysians having left the country between 2007 and 2009 to seek greener pastures elsewhere.

The former US envoy also accused Najib of bowing to pressure from groups such as Perkasa, which were against economic reforms in order to protect Malay rights.

“But stalling reform will mean a further loss in competitiveness and slower growth. It also means that the cronyism and no-bid contracts that favour the well-connected will continue,” he said.

Najib, he added, also allowed the rhetoric from his party and government officers to go on unabated because the prime minister needed it to net Malay votes.

“It’s politically convenient at a time when his party faces its most serious opposition challenge in recent memory – and especially when the opposition is challenging the government on ethnic policy and its economic consequences,” he added.

Underscoring the economic implications, Mallot said Malaysia needed to grow by eight percent per year during this decade to achieve its 2020 target.

“That level of growth will require major private investments from both domestic and foreign sources, upgraded human skills and significant economic reform. Worsening racial and religious tensions stand in the way,” he said.

“Its citizens will continue to vote with their feet and take their money and talents with them. And foreign investors, concerned about racial instability and the absence of meaningful economic reform, will continue to look elsewhere to do business,” he added.

FMT