Although difficult to accept, the court's decision concerning Datuk Seri Najib Razak must nevertheless be respected as a manifestation of the rule of law that underpins a functioning democratic state. Legal avenues remain available for the decision to be challenged and contested through the proper channels.
However, our response to such a decision reflects the depth of our political maturity, and the values we claim to uphold as a nation. A country is not built solely on rules and laws, but on civility, empathy and historical consciousness.
I had the opportunity to serve on the front lines of diplomacy as deputy foreign minister when Datuk Seri Najib Razak was prime minister. That period coincided with significant geopolitical shifts - intensifying great-power competition, regional tensions that could have easily escalated into conflict, and global economic uncertainty that demanded exceptional wisdom.
In many instances, he demonstrated the ability to read global geopolitical currents well before they entered mainstream discourse. His diplomatic approach was not driven by populist rhetoric or fleeting emotion, but by calm, strategic, and forward-looking considerations. At that time, Malaysia did not choose the path of a follower, but stood as a respected partner – one that was able to engage all sides without compromising its principles or dignity.
I personally witnessed how relationships with Asean countries, major world powers, and strategic partners in the Middle East and East Asia were managed with disciplined diplomacy. In navigating regional conflicts and international manoeuvring, composure and clarity of thought consistently anchored the decisions that were made.
My time in public service has taught me that leadership is not measured only in times of ease, but is truly tested when a nation faces pressure, uncertainty, and major trials. In many such moments, the country was guided by the conviction that diplomacy is not merely an external undertaking, but a reflection of a nation’s internal values and credibility.
Therefore, in upholding the principle of justice, we must be equally committed to upholding civility. There is a profound difference between defending the integrity of institutions and celebrating the downfall of an individual. Not everything that is lawful warrants jubilation, and not every decision needs to be met with excessive delight devoid of restraint – particularly in a political climate as complex and uncertain as ours. In reality, stability is not maintained through rigidity alone, but through measured wisdom.
I was taught that truly mature politics is politics that stands firmly on principle without surrendering its moral compass. It is not politics that rushes to condemn; but politics that weighs service, mistakes, and reality with balance. A strong nation is not one that revels in disparaging its past, but one that learns from history to build a wiser future. This was also the leadership demonstrated by Datuk Seri Najib Razak – never once lowering himself to celebrate the hardship of others, even those who were his political adversaries.
Malaysia was built through the contributions of multiple generations of leaders, public servants, and ordinary citizens. The nation’s journey has never been linear or perfect, yet it has always required collective wisdom to move forward without severing the roots that shaped it.
In moments like these, we are tested not only by the decisions that are made but by the attitudes we display. Leadership, in any form, demands the ability to restrain momentary impulses in service of long-term credibility and institutional integrity. Those who have borne national responsibility understand that dignity is never upheld through mockery, and principles are never strengthened through jeers. If we truly aspire for Malaysia to stand as a respected nation both domestically and internationally, then let justice be upheld with calmness, differences managed with civility, and history confronted with a magnanimous spirit. That is the true measure of a nation’s maturity, and the legacy we should strive to preserve.
Reezal Merican Naina Merican
Former deputy foreign minister of Malaysia (2015-2018)
