I will be surprised if 99% of the civil servants at Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly today were not thinking of three things, Malaysia’s ill-repute as global kleptocracy, 1MDB and “MO1” when they heard Najib’s speech this morning

I will be surprised if 99% of the civil servants at the Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly this morning were not thinking of three things, Malaysia’s ill-repute as global kleptocracy, 1MDB and “MO1” when they heard the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s speech this morning.

In his speech, Najib said the recent arrests made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) are a reminder to civil servants against wastage.

Najib said wastage “is equal to taking away what belongs to the people,” and he reminded those in government that they cannot take away the people’s rights.

The founder of Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4), Cynthia Gabriel and Bersih chairperson Maria China were spot-on when they responded to Najib’s speech by urging the Prime Minister to lead by example on his reminder to civil servants this not to take what rightfully belongs to the people.

Among other things, Najib should explain the RM2.6 billion donation and RM42 million from SRC International Sdn. Bhd, the former subsidiary of 1MDB, found in his personal bank account and what he did with the money.

Otherwise, Najib’s speech was only hypocrisy at its height.

I believe a fourth item would also be in the minds of the majority of the civil servants when they heard Najib’s speech this morning – the most cutting article in the latest Economist which said that “any typical leader of a typical democracy, when with nearly US$700 million of ill-explained money from an unnamed foreign donor in his account, would experience a swift and fatal fall”, but the bizarre spectacle of Najib seeming on “top of his game” after two-years of “high-wire” act, with the warning that “If he (Najib) can’t keep the money flowing, his seemingly loyal allies would abandon him in a jiffy”.

A wholly bizarre spectacle – Najib’s position and his speech at the PM Department’s monthly assembly this morning – and a most disgraceful and dishonourable place for Malaysia to be in on the eve of 60th National Day celebrations on August 31, 2017.