A reader pointed out this op-ed by Greg Sheridan, Foreign Editor of The Australian (Jan 29, 2011), which hails Najib as a great reformer:
Although he probably wouldn’t approve of the term, among Muslim heads of government, and in the context of Malaysian politics, Najib is a liberal. He has recast Malaysia’s foreign policy, reached out to its ethnic minorities with a “1 Malaysia” slogan and campaign, and set the economy on a path of reform and hi-tech growth.
Cautious, pragmatic, but more decisive than his predecessor and heading in the right direction socially, economically and in foreign policy, neither Canberra nor Washington could realistically ask for much more from a Malaysian leader.
What do you think of his analysis?
Greg Sheridan has long been a supporter of conservative authoritarian leaders in Asia, so why should he surprise anyone now?
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Greg, you may remember his now infamous phrase during the 1987 Kampung Baru riot when he said – “Basahkan keris dengan darah Cina” (“Bathe the keris with Chinese blood”).
I think it is still too early to declare if his 1Malaysia policies are for real, or mere hot air. We are too used to slogans here in Malaysia.
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@CLee,
What would many Malaysians do for someone to have a mobile phone with audio/vidoe recording functions at that rally. Alas, those were the pre-internet days.
Not so lucky these days. The famous “You help me, I help you” electoral bribery/corruption video.
@ Ralph Kamden,
Never ceases to surprise me how low some people can go.
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A great reformer? Where is he leadership for the so called ‘reformer’ to repeal those anti-democratic laws in free media, fighting corruption, respecting separation of powers, Petronas answerable to Parliament, the independence of judiciary, MACC and other state institutions, reforming election commission, restoring local govt. elections, restoring the truth of the constitution, etc.
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John Mallot (a former US ambassador to Malaysia) argues that Najib is pandering to Muslim Malay supremacists:
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“Celebration of romantic love not suitable for Malays” says Muhyiddin Yassin, the Deputy President of UMNO who also happens to be the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education for Malaysia.
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The Economists thinks that there are racial undercurrents in the thuggish harassment of the pro-democracy leaders, especially Ms. Ambiga (of Bersih).
Wonder what took The Economists this long to figure this out.
http://www.economist.com/node/21558619
I also wonder what Greg Sheridan thinks of Mr. Najib Razak now?
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Two contrasting views on the Australian government handling of the Xenophon incident – Greg Sheridan and Peter Hartcher. Which one will do Australia good in the “Asian Century?”
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/bullyboy-malaysia-immature-and-australias-reaction-so-limp-20130218-2end9.html
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/nick-xenophons-grandstanding-does-us-no-good/story-e6frg76f-1226579807573
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I think Mr Sheridan only reads the najib spin produced by APCO. Not much of an analyst if one does not try to match action with slogans and speeches.
So far I have not seen Najib’s “reformation” action, unless you call handing out a couple hundred ringgits to the poor “reformist”. BTW 80 % of the population were eligible for that RM$200/-! Shameful!
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