Forbes: Najib weakened even if he survives the WSJ

Forbes: Najib weakened even if he survives the WSJ
Suresh Kashuerin | July 6, 2015

US publication will upload damaging interview with former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on Najib Razak later this week
najib,-WSJ

KUALA LUMPUR: Even if Attorney-General Gani Patail finds that there is no sufficient evidence to prosecute Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, in the wake of allegations against him in The Wall Street Journal, “there’s a very strong sense that he has been weakened nevertheless”, according to Forbes in an op-ed piece.

“Malaysia is a place where reputation matters enormously and where bad press sticks.”
Gani Patail, it noted, disclosed last week that he feels that there is potential for the allegations to lead to criminal charges against Najib if the documents that he had received on them turn out to be accurate. “1MDB, which the Prime Minister chairs as the Advisor, was already a political embarrassment to him after having run up debts of USD11.6 billion. Now, it’s the subject of probes by four agencies.”

The allegations, added the US publication, has come at a very bad time for the Prime Minister even if it isn’t proven. “If it is proven that the funds did indeed go into an account bearing his name, it’s difficult to see how Najib can survive.”
“He’s facing the greatest challenge of his leadership since 2009 and even the risk of criminal charges.”

The publication was commenting on the WSJ report that Najib received nearly USD700 million of transfers originating from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), banked into his personal bank accounts, “much of it during an election campaign”.

Umno, which Najib heads, was already in a period of internal turmoil, continues the US publication, as it recognises that it no longer has an automatic right to expect to win every election. “The party wonders whether Najib is the right person to lead it in this newly-competitive political environment.”

“Malaysia’s economy is struggling too, particularly in an era of falling commodity prices, at a time when the country is one of the few in Asia to be a net exporter of commodities.”

The op-ed noted that former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, something of a mentor to Najib, has turned against him and has called on him to step down over 1MDB and even beforehand was angry with him. “Najib himself has referred to the allegations in the WSJ as political sabotage and has blamed Mahathir as orchestrating them.”

The comment piece discloses that Forbes will publish an interview with Mahathir later this week. The interview, conducted earlier this year, was on Mahathir’s thoughts on Najib “which have not been positive for some time”.

VERSI ALIH BAHASA MELAYU.

Forbes: Najib lemah walaupun dia bertahan WSJ

Suresh Kashuerin | 6 Julai 2015 AS penerbitan akan memuat naik temubual merosakkan dengan bekas Perdana Menteri Mahathir Mohamad pada Najib Razak kemudian minggu ini najib,

-WSJ KUALA LUMPUR:

Walaupun Peguam Negara Gani Patail mendapati bahawa tidak ada keterangan yang mencukupi untuk mendakwa Perdana Menteri Najib Abdul Razak, di tengah-dakwaan terhadap beliau dalam The Wall Street Journal, "ada rasa yang sangat kuat bahawa dia telah lemah namun", menurut Forbes dalam sekeping op-ed .

"Malaysia adalah tempat di mana reputasi penting mendadak dan di mana batang buruk akhbar." Gani Patail, katanya, didedahkan minggu lepas bahawa dia merasakan bahawa terdapat potensi untuk dakwaan membawa kepada tuduhan jenayah terhadap Najib jika dokumen yang beliau telah menerima mereka berubah menjadi tepat.

"1MDB, yang Perdana Menteri mempengerusikan sebagai Penasihat, sudah menjadi malu politik kepadanya selepas berlari hutang USD11.6 bilion. Kini, ia menjadi subjek kuar oleh empat agensi.

" Dakwaan, tambah penerbitan AS, telah datang pada waktu yang sangat buruk bagi Perdana Menteri walaupun ia tidak terbukti. "Jika terbukti bahawa dana yang memang masuk ke akaun menggunakan namanya, ia adalah sukar untuk melihat bagaimana Najib boleh hidup."

"Dia menghadapi cabaran yang paling besar kepimpinan beliau sejak 2009 dan juga risiko tuduhan jenayah." Penerbitan ini mengulas laporan WSJ bahawa Najib menerima hampir USD700 juta pemindahan berasal dari 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), dimasukkan ke dalam akaun bank peribadinya, "banyak daripadanya semasa kempen pilihan raya."

Umno yang diketuai Najib, telah pun dalam suatu tempoh pergolakan dalaman, terus penerbitan AS, kerana ia mengakui bahawa ia tidak lagi mempunyai hak automatik untuk mengharapkan untuk memenangi setiap pilihan raya.

"Parti itu tertanya-tanya sama ada Najib adalah orang yang tepat untuk memimpin dalam suasana politik baru yang kompetitif ini." "Ekonomi Malaysia sedang berjuang terlalu, terutamanya dalam era kejatuhan harga komoditi, ketika negara ini adalah salah satu daripada beberapa dalam Asia menjadi pengeksport bersih komoditi.

" The op-ed berkata bekas Perdana Menteri Mahathir Mohamad, sesuatu dari mentor kepada Najib, telah berpaling menentang beliau dan meminta beliau untuk berundur lebih 1MDB dan juga terlebih dahulu marah dengan dia .

"Najib sendiri telah merujuk kepada dakwaan dalam WSJ sebagai sabotaj politik dan menyalahkan Mahathir sebagai mendalangi mereka." Sekeping komen mendedahkan bahawa Forbes akan menyiarkan temu bual dengan Mahathir lewat minggu ini. Temuduga, yang dijalankan pada awal tahun ini, berada di fikiran Mahathir kepada Najib "yang tidak positif untuk beberapa waktu".