‘New Malaysia’ reeks of vengeance, feudalistic politics, says Najib's son

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib (pic) has hit out at the Pakatan Harapan government, his ire aimed especially at Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“The New Malaysia is not quite different from the Malaysia it was 30 years ago,” the son of former premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in a statement Thursday (July 5).

“The selective prosecution that took place today bore an uncanny resemblance to the past, just with a different subject, but the prime minister is still the same,” he said, in an apparent reference to Dr Mahathir, then the prime minister, who sacked his then deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was then tried and convicted for abuse of power and sodomy.

The sodomy conviction was later overturned, and Dr Mahathir and Anwar are now political allies in Pakatan.

“We are a country that promotes democracy but we aren’t politically mature enough as we still practise feudalistic politics that reek of vengeance,” said Mohd Nazifuddin.

His remarks come after Najib was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust and one count of abuse of power. He has pleaded not guilty.

Mohd Nazifuddin, whose brother Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib won uncontested as the Pekan Umno Youth chief in the recent party elections, was spotted campaigning alongside his father during GE14.

He also questioned the motive behind the recent series of raids and press conferences conducted by the police over the matter, alleging that all this was done to incite public anger against Najib.

“Isn't it a standard operating procedure not to share such details while investigations are ongoing? Is it done just to further ostracise my father?" he said.

Mohd Nazifuddin said he felt it was important for him to share his feelings over the matter.

“I’m not asking for sympathy but I need to tell the truth for everyone to understand. If the suffering of a former premier can make Malaysians happy, then I think he is willing to face that suffering.

“He is my father, and I know that Malaysians know what kind of person he is. If he had been a crook during the past 42 years of serving the country, I don't think he can be appointed as the prime minister several years ago,” he added.