'Malu Apa Bossku' phenomenon proof Najib still adored by many Malaysians, says Kit Siang

PETALING JAYA: The "Malu Apa Bossku" phenomenon is proof that many Malaysians still place Najib on a high pedestal despite the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, says Lim Kit Siang.

The veteran DAP politician said this was the reason he was willing to work with Datuk Seri Najib Razak, provided the former prime minister condemned the 1MDB scandal.

“If we can make Malaysians who still worship Najib in the “Malu Apa Bossku” phenomenon realise that corruption and the 1MDB financial scandal are crimes against the country and Malaysians, and if we get Najib to personally condemn the 1MDB scandal as corruption and a crime against Malaysia, it is a worthwhile effort,” he said.

The Iskandar Puteri MP also said that his media statements reflect his own political views and have nothing to do with the DAP leadership.

He said this was because he has retired from competitive politics and was no longer on the political front-line.

“I can understand the horror of some Malaysians at my statement on Sunday (July 17) that I was prepared to work with Najib for the good of the country and not for a portion of the 1MDB riches but first of all, Najib must condemn the 1MDB scandal and declare his stand against Malaysia becoming a kleptocracy.

“I can understand the response of Malaysians who regard Najib as the embodiment of evil who have brought Malaysia the infamy of a kleptocracy,” he said in his blog on Wednesday (July 20).

In March, at DAP’s national congress, the 81-year-old DAP stalwart announced his retirement from politics after 56 years.

In an earlier blog post on Monday (July 18), the DAP stalwart said that he was willing to work with Najib if he was also willing to declare his stand against Malaysia becoming a kleptocracy.

“Every person has good and bad impulses and the judgement of human character is whether the good impulses overwhelm the bad impulses, as every person is capable of change for the better,” he said.

He added that the confirmation from the Attorney General's Chambers that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho had attempted to reach a settlement with the government over 1MDB charges with an RM1.5bil offer is evidence that the scandal exists.

Some Malaysians online were taken aback by the statement and asked if Lim had lost his mind in making such a statement.