And relations with major partners such as the United States (he is confirmed for a meeting with U.S. president Barack Obama in about a week’s time) and China are on the upswing.
However, the political culture in Malaysia will be a tough challenge for the prime minister. Despite what must be a clear understanding among thoughtful UMNO leaders and strategists, there are party members that continue to try to persecute opposition leaders such as Anwar Ibrahim and others. This effort seems to be politically counterproductive as it highlights UMNO’s weakest link—the defensive status quo faction of the party.
Najib has proven that he has ideas—good ones—and that he has the political will to bring them to fruition. Why not take on the opposition in a competition of good ideas and initiatives rather than using parliamentary procedures and the courts? Wouldn’t the country be better served by political competition for ideas that would win hearts and minds? It would be refreshing to see the fight for Hulu Selangor dominated by such initiatives rather than the arcane politics of past generations.
Ernest Z. Bower is a senior adviser and director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C.
This article was first published here by CSIS.
Correction: It should be Hulu Selangor.
The final paragraph is an important one.
However, Mr. Bower and his organisation missed this opportunity when the CSIS organised seminar on Governance and the Rule of Law in Malaysia was turned into “off the record”. How can you persuade Mr. Najib to take his ‘good ideas’ to the opposition if you yourself do not encourage it.
If Mr. Bower would be more honest – he would know that Mr. Najib has no intention of behaving in a democratic manner and debating ‘his good ideas’ with the opposition.
Parliament is now reduced to petty squables among legislators while Mr. Najib announces key policies in the comfort of his supporters. All three key policies announced thus far – 1Malaysia, Government Transformation Plan (GTP) and the New Economic Model – were not done in Parliament.
Veteran opposition leader Mr. Lim Kit Siang’s calls for a Parliamentary Select Committee on the GTP have been rubished by Mr. Najib.
The world remembers that the US supported the likes of Mr. Sadam Hussein and General Pervez Musharraf. Let’s hope Mr. Najib would not be another one of those mistakes.