Najib adopts populist, minimalist approach
Andrew OngPublished: Jul 11, 2009 11:45 AM | Updated: Jul 11, 2009 12:38 PM
It’s not always pomp and splendour when it comes to Barisan Nasional, or at least that is what Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tried to prove today at his ‘100 days in office’ bash.
It’s not always pomp and splendour when it comes to Barisan Nasional, or at least that is what Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak tried to prove today at his ‘100 days in office’ bash.
The no-frills nor food event, billed as ‘Najib’s 100 days with the people’, did not even have sitting arrangements despite the guest list including the who’s who in BN along with top business and community leaders.
VIPs such as Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam had to stand at the back of the hall with journalists, while Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussien found it more comfortable to sit among schoolchildren on the floor near the stage.
“Today is a day for citizens of Malaysia - the people of ‘1Malaysia’,” declared Najib in his speech to some 3,000 who packed a hall at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and many more watching the live broadcast on state-owned TV1.
“This is a gathering where it does not matter where we sit. We don’t emphasise on protocol. We don’t need ‘kompang’ or ‘bunga manggar’. What is important is that we get to be with the people.
“Initially, I had the option of doing this speech at the Prime Minister’s Office live (on television), but I thought, if we did this live, we won’t be able to practice the concept of people first,” he said, in reference to his ‘1Malaysia - People first, performance now’ mantra.
Ditching BN’s old style
Ibrahim Suffian (right), director of independent pollster Merdeka Centre, opined that the no-frills strategy adopted by Najib could be an admission that the ‘old-style’ of BN politics, which reveres its leaders, was no longer publicly palatable.
“He wants to demonstrate to the people that he is different from the rest. A ‘man of the people’ kind of guy who will say what people wants to hear.
“He is taking pains to also demonstrate that he, as a leader of Umno, that BN has learnt its lesson and that (BN) is not arrogant and not above reproach,” he said.
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Najib tried to impress that he feels for the man on the street, qualifying this with his one-off April walkabouts in lower-income areas of Petaling Street, Brickfields and Kerinchi in Kuala Lumpur.
He spoke of his visit to the notorious Puduraya bus terminal, complaining of its nauseating fumes. Many in the crowd nodded and murmured in agreement.
But fear not, he told the crowd. He had approved of a RM44 million package a few weeks ago to improve the situation, and the move was already bearing fruit.
Some 30 minutes later, Najib got down to the most crucial portion of his speech - 11 important announcements, which among others, targeted the poor.
This includes providing additional taxi permits, selling 44,000 government-owned low-cost houses, a 50-percent reduction in petty traders licences in the Federal Territories, toll rates discounts and reducing cost of obtaining motorcycle licences.
The reduction of cost for obtaining motorcycles licences was a huge hit with students in the crowd, which made about almost a third of the audience, who cheered Najib on.
Along with the announcements of toll rates discounts, these were the only time Najib was rewarded with a major round of applause.
Indeed, the claps were heard even before Najib went into the nitty-gritty details of the toll rates discounts.
There were also announcements centred on Sabah and Sarawak, where promises were made to improve water and electricity supply, improving roads and resolving birth certification woes.
‘It’s akin to emperor giving goodies’
These announcements however failed to impress political analyst Khoo Kay Peng who called the event as a “totally hilarious gimmick”.
Khoo (left) argued that announcements were unnecessary as the government was responsible for generating economic growth, solving transport and housing woes, ensuring water and electricity supply and building infrastructure.
“Instead it sounds like a emperor, being kind, is giving away goodies to his subjects,” said Khoo.
To Khoo, Najib should instead be addressing crucial issues the country is facing today, particularly in transforming the economy, judiciary, law enforcement and upholding human rights as well as ensuring the mechanisms and other safeguards are put in place.
He dismisses the notion that it was difficult for Najib to resolve such issues because the new prime minister has been in cabinet for three decades.
“To say that he has only been on the job for three months is ridiculous. BN said they are governing based on collective responsibility. No one can’t say it’s a one-man job,” he said.
Journalists were unable to seek clarification on the announcements from Najib who decided to skip the press conference, perhaps weary that any reaction towards criticism by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday, would overshadow his important speech this morning.
The no-frills nor food event, billed as ‘Najib’s 100 days with the people’, did not even have sitting arrangements despite the guest list including the who’s who in BN along with top business and community leaders.VIPs such as Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam had to stand at the back of the hall with journalists, while Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussien found it more comfortable to sit among schoolchildren on the floor near the stage.
“Today is a day for citizens of Malaysia - the people of ‘1Malaysia’,” declared Najib in his speech to some 3,000 who packed a hall at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and many more watching the live broadcast on state-owned TV1.
“This is a gathering where it does not matter where we sit. We don’t emphasise on protocol. We don’t need ‘kompang’ or ‘bunga manggar’. What is important is that we get to be with the people. “Initially, I had the option of doing this speech at the Prime Minister’s Office live (on television), but I thought, if we did this live, we won’t be able to practice the concept of people first,” he said, in reference to his ‘1Malaysia - People first, performance now’ mantra.
Ditching BN’s old style
Ibrahim Suffian (right), director of independent pollster Merdeka Centre, opined that the no-frills strategy adopted by Najib could be an admission that the ‘old-style’ of BN politics, which reveres its leaders, was no longer publicly palatable. “He wants to demonstrate to the people that he is different from the rest. A ‘man of the people’ kind of guy who will say what people wants to hear.
“He is taking pains to also demonstrate that he, as a leader of Umno, that BN has learnt its lesson and that (BN) is not arrogant and not above reproach,” he said.
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth, Najib tried to impress that he feels for the man on the street, qualifying this with his one-off April walkabouts in lower-income areas of Petaling Street, Brickfields and Kerinchi in Kuala Lumpur.
He spoke of his visit to the notorious Puduraya bus terminal, complaining of its nauseating fumes. Many in the crowd nodded and murmured in agreement.
But fear not, he told the crowd. He had approved of a RM44 million package a few weeks ago to improve the situation, and the move was already bearing fruit.
Some 30 minutes later, Najib got down to the most crucial portion of his speech - 11 important announcements, which among others, targeted the poor.This includes providing additional taxi permits, selling 44,000 government-owned low-cost houses, a 50-percent reduction in petty traders licences in the Federal Territories, toll rates discounts and reducing cost of obtaining motorcycle licences.
The reduction of cost for obtaining motorcycles licences was a huge hit with students in the crowd, which made about almost a third of the audience, who cheered Najib on.
Along with the announcements of toll rates discounts, these were the only time Najib was rewarded with a major round of applause.
Indeed, the claps were heard even before Najib went into the nitty-gritty details of the toll rates discounts.
There were also announcements centred on Sabah and Sarawak, where promises were made to improve water and electricity supply, improving roads and resolving birth certification woes.
‘It’s akin to emperor giving goodies’
These announcements however failed to impress political analyst Khoo Kay Peng who called the event as a “totally hilarious gimmick”.
Khoo (left) argued that announcements were unnecessary as the government was responsible for generating economic growth, solving transport and housing woes, ensuring water and electricity supply and building infrastructure. “Instead it sounds like a emperor, being kind, is giving away goodies to his subjects,” said Khoo.
To Khoo, Najib should instead be addressing crucial issues the country is facing today, particularly in transforming the economy, judiciary, law enforcement and upholding human rights as well as ensuring the mechanisms and other safeguards are put in place.
He dismisses the notion that it was difficult for Najib to resolve such issues because the new prime minister has been in cabinet for three decades. “To say that he has only been on the job for three months is ridiculous. BN said they are governing based on collective responsibility. No one can’t say it’s a one-man job,” he said.
Journalists were unable to seek clarification on the announcements from Najib who decided to skip the press conference, perhaps weary that any reaction towards criticism by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday, would overshadow his important speech this morning.
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