Datuk Seri Najib Razak
has sought to frame the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal in
ethnic terms, and the move threatens to "widen ethnic divisions", said
geopolitical intelligence firm Stratfor in its latest analysis on the
embattled prime minister.
Noting the lack of explanations by Najib on the state investor’s
debts and the RM2.6 billion "donation" in his bank accounts, Stratfor
said Najib took his cue from Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad whose own rise was
fuelled by exploiting Malay and indigenous fears.
Najib and Umno had tacitly supported the Malay nationalist “red
shirt” movement, whose rally in September was prevented by police from
storming Petaling Street, a popular business district in Kuala Lumpur
dominated by Chinese Malaysians, Startfor noted in its analysis.
Najib, who is also the
Umno president, defended the rally and said it was a reaction by
Malaysia who felt the Bersih 4 gathering had challenged the dignity of
the Malays and the country’s leadership.
Stratfor said there appears a recognition that Malaysia's fundamental
demographic make-up was changing, most notably among the Chinese.
“Since 1983, their share of Malaysia's total population has dropped
more than 8%, and birth rates among ethnic Chinese are by far the lowest
of Malaysia's main ethnic groups.
“For political purposes then, rather than wooing back minority
voters, Umno will increasingly work to secure its base and keep the
opposition divided along ethnic lines,” it said.
This would create a "widening of ethnic divisions" that would
challenge the core integrity of the country, Stratfor said in its
analysis titled "Malaysia's eventual fall from grace".
However, Obama refused to comment on the investigations against Najib, saying that he did not touch on ongoing probes even on the US soil.
"I don't comment on investigations happening back in the US, I'm certainly not going to comment on any investigations or legal proceedings that are taking place in a foreign country when I'm a visitor.
- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/obama-says-discussed-fighting-corruption-with-najib#sthash.DkDVzq8j.dpuf
US President Barack Obama said he raised the importance of transparency, accountability and fighting corruption with Datuk Seri Najib Razak, even as the Malaysian prime minister is embroiled in the 1Malaysian Development Bhd (1MDB) and the controversy surrounding RM2.6 billion in his private accounts. - See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/obama-says-discussed-fighting-corruption-with-najib#sthash.DkDVzq8j.dpuf
US President Barack Obama said he raised the importance of transparency, accountability and fighting corruption with Datuk Seri Najib Razak, even as the Malaysian prime minister is embroiled in the 1Malaysian Development Bhd (1MDB) and the controversy surrounding RM2.6 billion in his private accounts. - See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/obama-says-discussed-fighting-corruption-with-najib#sthash.DkDVzq8j.dpuf
