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Media Room NAJIB’S 100-DAY BATTLE*
Media Room NAJIB’S 100-DAY BATTLE*
| NAJIB’S 100-DAY BATTLE* |
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| Written by Khaw Veon Szu |
| Friday, 02 October 2009 06:37 |
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As former British Prime Minister, Harold Wilson once said, 'a week is a long time in politics', and this is particularly true for Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as his 100th day in office is drawing to a close. Hence in the first 100 days, he had no choice but to race against time and tide, mobilizing whatever resources that he could possibly assemble, to win over the rakyat’s confidence and trust in him as their leader and his idea of “1Malaysia”. That explains why his first 100 days in office is inundated with breathtaking reforms in breadth and depth. It is arguably the biggest change since the enunciation and implementation of the New Economic Policy in 1971 under Najib’s father, Prime Minister Abduk Razak. It started with the release of 13 ISA detainees initially (including some HINDRAF leaders) and the lifting of the ban on Suara Keadilan and Harakah, the official organs of PKR and PAS respectively. Within weeks of taking office, Najib was able to bring into shape several major reforms. He liberalized 27 sub-sectors of the service sector and the financial sector as well. Just days before his 100th day in office, he made yet another psyche-shattering, bold economic reform announcement --- the removal of 30% equity quota on Malay ownership of public-listed companies. The Foreign Investment Committee which oversees Bumiputra participation in businesses was also scrapped. In the social sphere, confronted with the increasingly polarized Malaysian society after the March 8, 2008 general elections, Najib unveiled the “1Malaysia” concept which emphasized on “acceptance” and “justice”. The stamp of his 1Malaysia concept is best exemplified in two sensitive policy responses to extremely sensitive issues, i.e. Religious conversion and scholarship. His brave action in tackling the sensitive conversion issue showed his decisiveness even under tremendous pressure. The same applies to his decision to create a merit-based national scholarship to solve the perennial scholarship woes. However, not everyone is happy with the pace, width and depth of the reform agenda Najib is rigorously pursuing. Some within the establishment are bound to be upset over reforms. An article by former New Straits Times editor Kadir Jasin’s blog entitled “Buang DEB tapi apa gantinya”, aptly sums up the anxiety and rumblings on the ground. And “he last minute delay of Najib’s original plan to push through the amendments for the three religious conversion laws in the just concluded parliament sittings, clearly demonstrates the magnitude of challenges Najib and his team has to face. A big blot to -and indeed an almost politically-fatal blow- on Najib his 100-day battle, is the Perak crisis. Political chaos had ensued in Perak since the PR government was toppled through defections in February. The situation there clearly overshadows Najib’s bold sweeping reforms which include tackling longstanding grievances such as the pro-Malay economic policies. Najib has so far managed to hold UMNO, and to a certain extent the Malay community (even the ultras), together behind him . His family background and track record clearly plays an important role here. The Malays, especially the ultras, trust that Najib would never betray them in his pursuit for greater reform and liberalization to win over the support of non-Malays. But, how long can he continue to push the envelope? With all the progressive reforms he’s introduced, it’s probably safe to say that Najib has managed to buy BN some breathing space to further prove its reform credentials. So, he has won the 100-day battle but can he win the war? It’s actually too early to tell. That answer will only be obvious to everyone after the next general elections which must be held by 2013.
*This article is collected in Oon Yeoh’s latest book, “Najib’s First 100 days – No Honeymoon” as one of the guests essays. Share this page          |
| Last Updated on Friday, 04 December 2009 09:04 |
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