What Khairy Has Not Learned From Najib’s Four Political Diseases

Mariam Mokhtar, Malaysia Chronicle

When the Wikileaks disclosures erupted, senior Singaporean officials described how “Malaysia’s decline” was fuelled by incompetent politicians, and that “Najib has his neck on the line in connection with a high-profile murder case.”

Other disparaging comments about Malaysia’s past and current Prime ministers were bared for all to read. Even Khairy had a mention when Peter Ho told a US official: “The political knives will be out for Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi’s) son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin, whom nobody likes because he got where he is through family ties.”

Najib and his party maintained a stubborn silence rather than demand an explanation or give the Singaporeans a stiff rebuke for tarnishing their neighbour’s image. Although Malaysian leaders had been criticized and the country’s name been sullied, no one came to the country’s or even the leaders’ defence.

Finally, after two days, a few ministers managed to scrape a few comments for the press.

One of these was Khairy who told reporters on 14th December, that the Wikileaks exposure a few days earlier, had given a clear indication of the ‘nature’ of the former deputy prime minister, Anwar.

He said, “WikiLeaks' exposure, especially on Datuk Seri Anwar, is very serious because it was based on intelligence information obtained by foreigners. We do not know how the information is obtained, but since the information is used in communication between foreign countries, it seems valid. If it's not, Singapore and Australia would never have discussed it.”

It is all very well for Khairy to say that the intelligence information on Anwar must have been valid. In that case, the intelligence information on Najib and Altantuya should also be valid.

Kausikan had said, “A lack of competent leadership is a real problem for Malaysia.” He then cited a need for Najib to prevail politically in order to avoid prosecution in connection with the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

“Najib has his neck on the line in connection with a high-profile murder case,” noted Kausikan.

Khairy claimed that “…..the information is used in communication between foreign countries, it seems valid. If it's not, Singapore and Australia would never have discussed it…..”

But why has he not demanded from the Singaporeans, information that could shed light on the murder?

Khairy said that Anwar was unfit to become Prime Minister if the revelations by WikiLeaks were true.

He said, “It is not just (because of) moral issues but because foreign intelligence has technical intelligence or evidence of his behaviour and this could be used as leverage against Malaysia should he become PM.”

“We cannot elevate a man whose dark secrets are known to foreign governments as PM. They will have leverage against us and this may compromise our sovereignty,” he said in a text message which he sent and was quoted by ‘The Star’.

Khairy expressed concern that Anwar’s “dark secrets” will “compromise our sovereignty”.

How come Khairy does not share the same anxieties about Najib and the other associated “dark secrets” which are connected to “the murder scandal”?

Khairy previously sent out text messages describing why he thought Anwar was unfit to become Prime minister.

He wouldn’t have mentioned this at all is he didn’t believe that Anwar had the potential to be Prime minister. He has inadvertently let slip that Anwar has a chance of becoming Prime minister.

Khairy argues that it is Anwar’s “dark secrets” which makes him unsuitable for the role of Prime minister.

Thus, if Khairy is prepared to accept Najib with his equally “dark secrets” as Prime minister, then by that same token, Khairy must also acknowledge that Anwar can also be Prime minister.

Moreover, Khairy is also saying that if not for those “dark secrets”, Anwar does possess the qualities and competency, to be Prime minister.