SHAH ALAM, 1 Jan: The former Chief Editor of the New Straits Times Press Group (NSTP), Datuk A.Kadir Jasin, raised the question of the public on where the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, are during the 2014 New Year’s celebration.
In his blog, Kadir wrote that as the people gathered at Dataran Merdeka to protest the rising prices of goods and cost of living, Najib is not in Malaysia to hear their demands.
“While the protesters, be they for or against the government, may be demanding this and that, they should know that the man who could make things happen, i.e the Prime Minister, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, is not here to hear their demands firsthand,” Kadir wrote on his blog kadirjasin.blogspot.com.
According to Kadir, information received stated that Najib is abroad for the New Year celebrations despite an earlier denial by a member of his Communication Advisory Group (CAG).
He said that in a posting entitled “Wanita Chief and the Grandmaster” on 11 December, a debater going by the name of Zainor commented that Najib and His wife are on vacation in Los Angales (LA) and will fly to Sydney, Australia for the New Year celebration.
“…He said Najib will be on vacation in LA with his Wife…They are flying from LA to Sydney to see the sunrise in Sydney.
“At that time, we will be still sleeping in Malaysia. After that, they will fly from Sydney to Las Vegas to witness the sunrise for the second time. Because America is a day later than Australia,” Kadir quoted the comment.
According to Kadir, he asked a member of the CAG via SMS if this is true, but it was denied.
To confirm that it was not just gossip or slander, on 30 December, Kadir sent an SMS to the PM’s Press Secretary, Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad, who confirmed that Najib was abroad and this duties have been taken over by his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Kadir added that he also asked the editors of two newspapers, one of whom is a member of the CAG, through SMS to know if any official statement has been made.
The editor later confirmed that no official statement was released, however declined to be quoted.
Kadir, who was previously treated as a strongman of Tun Mahathir Mohamad, stole the spotlight when he criticised Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, on his blog.
He sarcastically proposed for Rosmah to be appointed to a ministerial position, even as Prime Minister, for her role in taking the tasks of cabinet ministers.
This was following Najib’s praise towards his wife during the Umno General Assembly early in December, after receiving criticism for using government jets for personal visits abroad.
Kair’s writing was seen by many political observers as a preemptive attack on Najib’s leadership and it represents the views of former Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Taken from: Keadilan Daily
