Prime Minister Najib Razak is a busy man on a spending and buying spree. In the past few days, he has visited the morning market in Kuching and has promised the people that he will give them RM300,000 to upgrade the market if they vote for BN on April 16.
This is a throwback to the Sibu and Kerdau by-elections where he also promised the voters development funds if they vote BN.
But Najib does not seem to be bothered about the criticism hurled at him. Political rivals and civil society leaders say he has no scruples by openly using such less-than-ethical means to secure votes. Their outrage has not stopped him at all.
Najib too does not appear to have many qualms about using government machinery i.e. helicopters, 4WDs, boats to go into the interior areas of Sarawak.
The Malaysian prme minister is also not afraid that his open vote-buying is out there on the world's stage for all to see.
Not surprisingly then, he is now undisputedly the Prime Minister with the worst record in terms of image since the nation obtained independence from British rule in 1957.
"One of the biggest threats to free, fair and honest elections is political corruption, which is the mother of all corruptions,” Transparency International Malaysia president Paul Low had warned at the onset of the election campaign.
Sarawak, the nation's largest but poorest state is due to go to the ballot boxes on April 16.
"The eyes of the world are on Malaysia. There is already so much bad press about the country and no amount of economic incentives will bring about sustainable development if investors do not believe in our government, if our leaders do not carry themselves with the greatest credibility," Ramon Navaratnam, chairman of the Centre for Public Policy Studies, told Malaysia Chronicle.
It is telling that the unveiling of the second phase of Malaysia capital market master plan on Tuesday received only muted response despite Najib rushing back to Kuala Lumpur to deliver the keynote address. His office had urged the government-controlled media to play up the event, but it elicited little response.
Apart from credibility, Najib's trademark behaviour of failing to provide vital details but only grandiose visions also dampened investor interest.
Even churches are not spared
According to DAP MP for Degambut, Lim Lip Eng, the PM had last year given funds to a church during the Sibu by-election. But it was not for free. In return, Najib made the pastor instruct the congregation not to attend the Pakatan Rakyat's ceramahs.
If true, this will be an eye-opener for Christians. It also shows that for Malaysia's 6th prime minister, nothing is sacred.
PKR MP for Selayang William Leong is among those who lament the BN's penchant for 'instant noodle' projects and hoped that the people will not be fooled into voting for BN.
"The voters must see that development is ongoing and not just once every 5 years during the polls. The people must see through the fact that 30 years under Taib's tenure has not brought them development and the natives in the interiors are still mired in deep poverty. This is not how a caring government should act," William, who is also the PKR treasurer, told Malaysia Chronicle.
When the head itself is corrupt
To Sarawakians, it is already crystal clear that 30 years under the administration of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has not yielded significant development and that most of Taib's promises have not been kept .
PAS MP for Kota Raja Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud lambasted Najib for his "You scratch my back, I scratch yours" attitide. He is publicly condoning corruption and showing Malaysians that as long as you have the might you can steamroll through anything - even evil, she said.
"Najib can never eradicate corruption with the attitude that he has. His stand as an administrator is 'if you don't pay me, I won't do anything for you'. It is the attitude of a regime that is corrupted to the core," Siti Mariah told Malaysia Chronicle.
"The people of Sarawak should wake up to the fact that it is impossible for BN to eradicate corruption when the BN leaders themselves are corrupted and none more so than the PM himself who is setting a very bad example for the civil service and other government agencies."
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