Jakarta Globe, AFP, Apr 10, 2015
 |
| Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, shakes hands upon his arrival before the Budget Revision in Putrajaya on Jan. 20, 2015. (AFP Photo/Ahmad Yusni) |
Kuala
Lumpur. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has defended himself against a
slew of criticisms over corruption scandals and a crackdown on civil liberties,
brushing aside suggestions that he should step down.
“I was
elected by my party, and by the people of this country, to lead them. As such,
I am answerable only to the people — not to any one individual,” Najib said in
an interview on state-controlled television broadcast late Thursday night.
Najib has
come under fire over a state-owned investment company he launched, now mired in
$11 billion of debt and allegations of fraud and huge sums of missing money.
His
government — long accused of using security laws to stifle dissent — this week
also triggered outrage by passing a tough anti-terrorism act allowing
authorities to detain suspects without charge in the Muslim-majority country.
It also
toughened penalties under a sedition law — used against dozens of government
critics over the past year — to a maximum 20-year jail term, up from three
years.
“Contrary
to what some are suggesting, these laws will not be used against critics of the
government,” Najib said of the terrorism legislation, according to an English
translation of his comments released by his office.
“Rather,
they will be an extra tool for dealing with the militant threat that all
countries face.”
The prime
minister was forced to respond after hardline former leader Mahathir Mohamad
last week stepped up a campaign to remove Najib, who came into office in 2009
promising clean government and a more relaxed rule.
Mahathir
had demanded answers on the scandal surrounding the state investment fund
1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Fears that
1MDB could collapse have rattled the ringgit currency.
“I
recognize that there are a number of questions swirling around 1MDB. Some of
these questions are valid, but there are others that appear to be directed at
the company solely with the intention of creating controversy,” Najib said.
Mahathir,
89, spearheaded a successful campaign to oust Najib’s predecessor, Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi, in 2009.
The retired
former premier also waded into taboo territory recently by raising a past
scandal linked to Najib involving the 2002 purchase of French submarines.
The deal
has been clouded by allegations of huge kickbacks to Malaysian officials and
the still-murky 2006 murder of a Mongolian woman involved in negotiations, amid
suspicions she was killed to silence her about the deal.
Najib did
not address the issue in his interview.
Najib led
the ruling coalition dominated by his United Malays National Organization
(UMNO) — in power for 58 years — to its worst election showing ever in 2013.
His
government has cracked down since then, arresting scores of critics on a range
of charges.
The
terrorism and sedition laws have been denounced by international rights groups,
but Najib said Thursday both were necessary to safeguard stability.
Political
analysts say Najib retains control of his ruling party and looked unlikely to
be ousted for now.
Agence France-Presse
 |
In this
file photo taken on June 14, 2012 former Malaysian prime minister
Mahathir
Mohamad gestures during an interview with AFP in Kuala Lumpur.
(AFP
Photo/Saeed Khan) |
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