Najib’s trip may prove to be a hard sell, says Phil Robertson.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is in London this week to pitch foreign investment, is mired in political controversy at home.
The corruption scandal involving the government-owned 1 Malaysia Development Berhad fund refuses to die, despite Najib’s “exoneration” by the attorney general he appointed in July, after summarily dismissing the previous one.
With ongoing investigations of the troubled investment fund in countries ranging from Switzerland to Singapore, the scandal has generated international interest. Speaking publicly or writing about it in Malaysia, however, is risky business.
In February, the government blocked access to The Malaysian Insider, an online news portal, after it reported on the scandal, and warned other media against publishing “unverified” information. After a month of being blocked, The Malaysian Insider ceased operations. The government also blocked access to other websites, including the UK-based Sarawak Report, after they posted articles on the scandal.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
Lawyers, opposition politicians, and activists who have openly criticised the government’s handling of the scandal or called for Najib to resign have found themselves the subject of police investigations for sedition or “activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy”. Those posting critical comments on social media have been targeted under the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Even the highly respected Malaysian Bar, long an outspoken defender of human rights and the rule of law, is in the government’s crosshairs. In March, after the bar passed a resolution calling for the resignation of the attorney general to restore public confidence in the administration of justice, the government opened a sedition investigation of the three lawyers who introduced the resolution and the secretary of the bar and has sought to obtain minutes of the bar’s confidential meetings.
Malaysia and the United Kingdom have longstanding ties, but when Prime Minister David Cameron met Najib last July, Cameron is reported to have urged Najib to “clean up his government”.
By that, Cameron surely didn’t mean block the news media from reporting on a corruption scandal, prosecute people for criticising the government’s handling of that scandal, and threaten the independence of the nation’s preeminent association of lawyers.
Najib’s trip may prove to be a hard sell.
Phil Robertson is deputy director of the Asia division of Human Rights Watch.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Philip, I think God will not want to meet such character.
In a few years as Najib grows older and get closer and closer to his appointment with God, he will realise a man’s good name is worth more than several hundred billion dollars.
I think God hate to meet such character.