'Najib more powerful than Obama'

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is even more powerful than US President Barack Obama, according to former de facto law minister Zaid Ibrahim.

Zaid argued that it was not a question of whether Najib has the power to push through much-needed reforms in the country. It was a question of whether he has the political will, said the senior lawyer.

"Do you think Obama is the most powerful man? He has to answer to the US Congress, he has to answer to the Senate, he has to deal with newspapers and journalists," he quipped, hinting that Najib on the other hand is not answerable to anyone and therefore has ultimate power.

Speaking at a forum last night, Zaid stressed that as prime minister and Umno president, Najib has full control over all levels of state power and the disbursement of government projects and funds.

"The tragedy of Pak Lah is because he is Pak Lah," he said, referring to former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's failure to deliver on his reform promises.

The new Umno leader, said Zaid, has a firm grip over Umno's powerful supreme council.

"The Umno president is very strong, you cannot challenge him. In the supreme council, we can say they are all the president's men."

As such, Najib does not have any excuse not to push through the necessary reforms in his party and the government, said Zaid.

Three key issues for Najib

Zaid was one of the speakers in 'Can Najib Deliver His Reform Promises?' forum held at KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall last night.

Political analyst Ooi Kee Beng also launched his latest book, ' Arrested Reforms: The Undoing of Abdullah Badawi ', at the event.

Zaid would give Najib another month before deciding on his performance.

He highlighted three major issues for immediate action - accept the principle that all Malaysians are equal, notwithstanding Article 153 in the Federal Constitution (a clause which guarantees Malay privileges), repealing the Printing Presses and Publications Act as well as the Internal Security Act.

"If the prime minister wants it, (Home Minister) Hishammuddin (Hussein) will walk (the talk). Can you imagine Hishammuddin saying 'no, no, no'?" he said, referring to the minister who is responsible for both PPPA and ISA.

Zaid also stressed that Najib must further explain his 'One Malaysia' concept.

"If he cannot articulate that we are all Malaysians and equal, and that all the people of this country deserve the protection of law, privileges and right of citizenship, then what can we expect?" he asked.

Umno incapable of self-correction

However, the other two panelists in the forum gave a slightly different take on whether Najib is capable of delivering on reforms.

According to them, it would be difficult, even impossible, for Najib to bring about real reform as he is fighting against vested interests of powerful chieftains in Umno and BN.

Ooi, a researcher from Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, expects only piecemeal reforms from Najib.

He believed that major reforms in Umno will shake the foundation of the party's power elites and thus he did not think the party would be able to correct itself.

"Chances are Umno can only accomplish self renewal by suffering a defeat (at the general election)."

Ooi also pointed out that Najib has inherited Abdullah's failures - there are cynics among many Malaysians who feel that Umno cannot be reformed.

"This is the atmosphere that surrounds Najib when he came into power. Unlike other successors, he has no honeymoon period."

He stressed that Najib cannot repeat Abdullah's strategies in making promises for reform.

"This is not a time for promises, whatever he wishes to do, he has to implement them."

Don't bank too much on Najib

Meanwhile, DAP vice-president Tunku Abdul Aziz said Najib had never been a reformer.

According to the former Transparency International-Malaysia president, Najib is surrounded by 'recycled politicians', many of whom seek to uphold race-based politics.

"As the president of Umno, he has to persuade his colleagues that the answer to Malaysia's future sustainability and competitiveness can only be achieved if the whole race-based structure is abolished.

"This will not happen," he said.

Tunku Aziz ( far left in photo ) also questioned Najib's 'One Malaysia' concept and pointed out that the proposal was not something new as DAP had long touted for a "Malaysian's Malaysia".

He said for the 'One Malaysia' concept to be successful, race-based policies must be terminated.

"But some of these policies, if abandoned, will bring about the end of their power."

He believed that race-based politics have lost its place in post-2008 Malaysia and race-based parties should be dismantled.

"These parties are really political dinosaurs; they have no business in the 21st century. My conclusion is - don't place too much hope on Najib."