Veteran politician Datuk Seri Rais Yatim made it back to the Cabinet as information, communications and culture minister. And he lost no time to resurrect a bogeyman from the past, accusing the foreign media of a “grand design” to topple the prime minister.
He charged the foreign media of using various terms to describe Datuk Seri Najib Razak's character and give the impression that he was unacceptable to some Malaysians, saying this also happened but failed during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's watch at the country's helm.
He is right. In fact, the last time the foreign media was accused of doing anything was during Dr Mahathir's long reign as prime minister where he once called them “congenital liars”.
But it is this kind of broadsides that was an aspect of “Mahathirism” that might rally some but also rattle others. Dr Mahathir himself brought this up early this week when he said the foreign media was out to “demonise” Najib.
Their proof is the laundry-list of allegations and claims that began in cyperspace and finally made it to print in many broadsheets and tabloids across the world. The allegations are as yet unproven and beyond denying them, Najib or the government have not taken any action.
Until now. Until Rais decided to call it a grand design to topple the country's sixth prime minister. But he believed the allegations will eventually die down.
"However, we must study (the situation) and if I have the chance, I want to have a debate with those trying to implicate our leader with unbecoming and nonsensical words," said Rais as quoted by state news agency Bernama.
He also challenged Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to a public debate about allegations against Najib as the former minister has been frequently quoted by the foreign media.
Rais, a lawyer by training, is within his right to accuse and challenge detractors to debates which is the way a civilised society works.
But he should really make his point by taking those who make such claims to court. If the foreign media is found to print lies, sue them. If someone slanders the prime minister, sue them.
Blaming the foreign media and raising the prospect of a grand design to topple the current prime minister is as old as the time Rais first worked under Najib's father, Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
It’s a tired excuse and a bogeyman that should be put to rest. And perhaps Rais should listen to Lim Kit Siang. Concentrate on broadband.
Not broadsides.
MI
24/04/09
He charged the foreign media of using various terms to describe Datuk Seri Najib Razak's character and give the impression that he was unacceptable to some Malaysians, saying this also happened but failed during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's watch at the country's helm.
He is right. In fact, the last time the foreign media was accused of doing anything was during Dr Mahathir's long reign as prime minister where he once called them “congenital liars”.
But it is this kind of broadsides that was an aspect of “Mahathirism” that might rally some but also rattle others. Dr Mahathir himself brought this up early this week when he said the foreign media was out to “demonise” Najib.
Their proof is the laundry-list of allegations and claims that began in cyperspace and finally made it to print in many broadsheets and tabloids across the world. The allegations are as yet unproven and beyond denying them, Najib or the government have not taken any action.
Until now. Until Rais decided to call it a grand design to topple the country's sixth prime minister. But he believed the allegations will eventually die down.
"However, we must study (the situation) and if I have the chance, I want to have a debate with those trying to implicate our leader with unbecoming and nonsensical words," said Rais as quoted by state news agency Bernama.
He also challenged Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to a public debate about allegations against Najib as the former minister has been frequently quoted by the foreign media.
Rais, a lawyer by training, is within his right to accuse and challenge detractors to debates which is the way a civilised society works.
But he should really make his point by taking those who make such claims to court. If the foreign media is found to print lies, sue them. If someone slanders the prime minister, sue them.
Blaming the foreign media and raising the prospect of a grand design to topple the current prime minister is as old as the time Rais first worked under Najib's father, Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
It’s a tired excuse and a bogeyman that should be put to rest. And perhaps Rais should listen to Lim Kit Siang. Concentrate on broadband.
Not broadsides.
MI
24/04/09
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