Prime
Minister Najib Abdul Razak is not unduly worried about being arrested
in Europe for ignoring the request to testify in a French court about
Scorpene, but he will have one big worry if the French court imposes
travel sanctions on his wife, the self-styled ‘First Lady’ Rosmah
Mansor.
Najib has much in common with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Both men are seeking re-election and have wives who are fashionistas who love to sing, although one is a wannabe.
If
Malaysia’s ‘First Lady’ cannot trawl her usual hunting grounds in the
boutiques of Paris, London or Rome, Najib will have hell to pay. Talk is
rife in Malaysian households that it is Rosmah who wears the trousers.
Then, there is the possibility of their assets in Europe being frozen.
Najib has to face the thousands of Bersih 3.0 protestors but he is more fearful of Rosmah. Her love of expensive furniture and fine jewellery is known; her addiction to handbags and shoes is well documented. It is alleged that any minor official in a Malaysian embassy or high commission will attest to the endless paperwork for shipping her purchases back to Malaysia.
Who knows? Rosmah may join the ranks of the wives of infamous dictators, if the French decide to punish Najib.
Asma, the British wife of Syrian president Bashar al Assad has been banned from travelling to Europe, by ministers in Brussels. She is able to visit England, only because she was born there, but other members of Assad’s family are all banned from Europe.
Last year, Switzerland denied a visa to President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, who had planned to go to Geneva. After the 2002 presidential polls, which observers claimed were rigged in favour of the president, Mugabe and his inner circle were slapped with travel bans by the EU.
In
Paris, French investigators in the Scorpene case are interested in the
testimony of Razak Baginda, the PM’s former aide. Razak’s role was
crucial in the RM7.3 billion purchase of Scorpene submarines from French
shipyard builder DCNS. It is alleged that RM570 million had been paid
to his company, Perimekar.
The Malaysian government paid for “co-ordination and support services”, a euphemism for bribes. Najib was the defence minister at the time the submarines were procured, and he successfully managed to lobby Parliament to sanction the purchases.
The murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu using military explosives in 2006 is a grim reminder that deals arranged by high-ranking Malaysian politicians are usually accompanied by sex and sometimes, murder.
Altantuya was collateral damage to those behind this grisly crime. She was the go-between and allegedly provided both bed-warming and translation services to Razak at least.
Joseph Breham, the French lawyer who is representing Suaram, has allegedly uncovered kickbacks to Malaysian politicians for the purchase of two Scorpene class submarines. He has said that “the money trail will lead to the culprits”.
Fear all round
Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution lodged a protest in Parliament last week, because Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, a lawyer for Umno, was dispatched to Europe, New York and Dubai allegedly on Najib’s instructions.
Speculation is rife that Shafee has been tasked with covering Najib’s tracks but others say that he has a more sinister role, like arranging a deal with the French court.
Rushing to Najib’s defence was Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who denied that the government had hired Shafee, although he refused to say if the lawyer is representing Najib or Rosmah in their personal capacity.
Nevertheless, Malaysians had a glimpse of what was on Najib’s mind at yesterday’s press conference at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang.
Asked if he is going to Paris to testify in the Scorpene case, Najib snapped: “I don't need to comment....I don't want to comment, thank you.”
Before the reporter could quiz Najib further, he beat a hasty retreat. His engagement with the media was over in less than 10 minutes.
By reacting to the questioning in such a manner, Najib has increased speculation that he does have something to hide. This time, the Malaysian public can see through all his evasive tactics.
Najib is not the only person who is afraid. Last week, defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) retracted an earlier statement that he would testify in Paris. Najib’s administration is rattled by events there.
One thing is clear, Zahid is a good learner. Najib knows a thing or two about delegation and as no Malaysian representative will testify in Paris, Zahid has demanded that the Malaysian ambassador in Paris resolves the matter.
The PM has previously sworn on the Quran that he does not know Altantuya, despite the claimed existence of photographic evidence.
What a shame that Najib has so little respect for his religion. Talk is cheap, and our cabinet is a theatre for amateur dramatics. Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan is another who swore on the Quran about his relationship with Anwar Ibrahim. Perhaps Najib coached him too.
If former US president Bill Clinton was a Muslim, perhaps he too would not miss the opportunity to swear on the Quran. All he could muster was “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”, when referring to his intern Monica Lewinsky.
Najib has hotly denied knowing Altantuya (right).
Like Clinton, Najib’s approval rating has remained high during troubled
times. Perhaps, Najib is learning from the Clinton manuscript.
During the Lewinsky revelations, Clinton went on television and pleaded with the American public “to allow him to get on with the job”.
Najib did just that a few days ago in an interview with the International Investor, an independent research group.
He said: “It is certainly my hope that, when we hold the next general election, the people will ….. allow me to continue with a process of reform.......”
After students were attacked in Dataran Merdeka and the vicious reprisals against people seeking democratic reforms, plus the long list of high-level corruption, it remains to be seen if the rakyat will want Najib to continue in politics.
Najib has much in common with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Both men are seeking re-election and have wives who are fashionistas who love to sing, although one is a wannabe.
If
Malaysia’s ‘First Lady’ cannot trawl her usual hunting grounds in the
boutiques of Paris, London or Rome, Najib will have hell to pay. Talk is
rife in Malaysian households that it is Rosmah who wears the trousers.Then, there is the possibility of their assets in Europe being frozen.
Najib has to face the thousands of Bersih 3.0 protestors but he is more fearful of Rosmah. Her love of expensive furniture and fine jewellery is known; her addiction to handbags and shoes is well documented. It is alleged that any minor official in a Malaysian embassy or high commission will attest to the endless paperwork for shipping her purchases back to Malaysia.
Who knows? Rosmah may join the ranks of the wives of infamous dictators, if the French decide to punish Najib.
Asma, the British wife of Syrian president Bashar al Assad has been banned from travelling to Europe, by ministers in Brussels. She is able to visit England, only because she was born there, but other members of Assad’s family are all banned from Europe.
Last year, Switzerland denied a visa to President Robert Mugabe’s wife, Grace, who had planned to go to Geneva. After the 2002 presidential polls, which observers claimed were rigged in favour of the president, Mugabe and his inner circle were slapped with travel bans by the EU.
In
Paris, French investigators in the Scorpene case are interested in the
testimony of Razak Baginda, the PM’s former aide. Razak’s role was
crucial in the RM7.3 billion purchase of Scorpene submarines from French
shipyard builder DCNS. It is alleged that RM570 million had been paid
to his company, Perimekar.The Malaysian government paid for “co-ordination and support services”, a euphemism for bribes. Najib was the defence minister at the time the submarines were procured, and he successfully managed to lobby Parliament to sanction the purchases.
The murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu using military explosives in 2006 is a grim reminder that deals arranged by high-ranking Malaysian politicians are usually accompanied by sex and sometimes, murder.
Altantuya was collateral damage to those behind this grisly crime. She was the go-between and allegedly provided both bed-warming and translation services to Razak at least.
Joseph Breham, the French lawyer who is representing Suaram, has allegedly uncovered kickbacks to Malaysian politicians for the purchase of two Scorpene class submarines. He has said that “the money trail will lead to the culprits”.
Fear all round
Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution lodged a protest in Parliament last week, because Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, a lawyer for Umno, was dispatched to Europe, New York and Dubai allegedly on Najib’s instructions.
Speculation is rife that Shafee has been tasked with covering Najib’s tracks but others say that he has a more sinister role, like arranging a deal with the French court.
Rushing to Najib’s defence was Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who denied that the government had hired Shafee, although he refused to say if the lawyer is representing Najib or Rosmah in their personal capacity.
Nevertheless, Malaysians had a glimpse of what was on Najib’s mind at yesterday’s press conference at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang.
Asked if he is going to Paris to testify in the Scorpene case, Najib snapped: “I don't need to comment....I don't want to comment, thank you.”
Before the reporter could quiz Najib further, he beat a hasty retreat. His engagement with the media was over in less than 10 minutes.
By reacting to the questioning in such a manner, Najib has increased speculation that he does have something to hide. This time, the Malaysian public can see through all his evasive tactics.
Najib is not the only person who is afraid. Last week, defence minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) retracted an earlier statement that he would testify in Paris. Najib’s administration is rattled by events there.One thing is clear, Zahid is a good learner. Najib knows a thing or two about delegation and as no Malaysian representative will testify in Paris, Zahid has demanded that the Malaysian ambassador in Paris resolves the matter.
The PM has previously sworn on the Quran that he does not know Altantuya, despite the claimed existence of photographic evidence.
What a shame that Najib has so little respect for his religion. Talk is cheap, and our cabinet is a theatre for amateur dramatics. Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan is another who swore on the Quran about his relationship with Anwar Ibrahim. Perhaps Najib coached him too.
If former US president Bill Clinton was a Muslim, perhaps he too would not miss the opportunity to swear on the Quran. All he could muster was “I did not have sexual relations with that woman”, when referring to his intern Monica Lewinsky.
Najib has hotly denied knowing Altantuya (right).
Like Clinton, Najib’s approval rating has remained high during troubled
times. Perhaps, Najib is learning from the Clinton manuscript.During the Lewinsky revelations, Clinton went on television and pleaded with the American public “to allow him to get on with the job”.
Najib did just that a few days ago in an interview with the International Investor, an independent research group.
He said: “It is certainly my hope that, when we hold the next general election, the people will ….. allow me to continue with a process of reform.......”
After students were attacked in Dataran Merdeka and the vicious reprisals against people seeking democratic reforms, plus the long list of high-level corruption, it remains to be seen if the rakyat will want Najib to continue in politics.
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