COMMENT Soon after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's pre-recorded interview with TV3 was aired last night, a joke swirled in cyberspace about Snow White, Superman and Pinocchio entering three separate contests.

While Snow White and Superman won the 'most beautiful maiden' and 'strongest man' titles respectively, Pinocchio, who was also confident of emerging victorious, returned from the 'Greatest Liar' competition dejected.

"Who the hell is Najib?" Pinocchio asked when proded for the reason behind his sorrow. Apparently, the premier's nose grew longer than his during the tussle for the top spot.

Such ridicule comes as no surprise since the prime minister's reputation has been soiled by a litany of allegations, but it was Dr Mahathir Mohamad's excoriation that did the most damage.

It was the latter who prompted Najib to address the nation through the Umno-linked television station yesterday.

Though he took pains to express respect for the former strongman, many political observers believe that his answers shred whatever little hope is left for reconciliation.

Among others, Najib suggested that Mahathir was doing to him what the former premier did to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, which is to exert undue influence on the government administration.

Najib resurrected the infamous 'crooked bridge' issue, stating that Mahathir wanted the government to construct it to replace the Johor causeway.

Apart from this, the former premier also wanted an end to the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) cash handouts.

"I gave my views but Mahathir disagreed with some of them," the prime minister said, hinting that these issues were the catalyst of the rift.

The message which Najib had intended to put across was that Mahathir, a retired politician who is pushing 90, should not meddle in government affairs.

Answerable to no one individual

Najib also told TV3 that he was not answerable to any "individual" but to the people and those who elected him.

"I was elected by my party and by the people to lead the country. As such, I am answerable only to the rakyat - not to any individual," he said.

He, however, did not mention that only 47 percent of voters backed him and the ruling BN coalition in the last general election.

The prime minister also conveniently ignored that it is individuals who make up the populace and the fundamentals of a democratic nation is that each voice, no matter how insignificant, must be heard.   

Moreover, Mahathir is raising the same questions which the people have been asking all these years.

These questions were also posed by opposition lawmakers, who like Najib, have been elected by the people to represent them.

Among others, they include the motive behind the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu and if anyone had ordered the hit on the Mongolian woman, and the messy cover-up involving private eye P Balasubramaniam's conflicting statutory declarations.

These were not addressed by Najib last night. He merely reiterated his innocence and that he did not know Altantuya.

Or could it be that the 'individual' Najib referred to was Rosmah Mansor, his larger-than-life wife?

According to a veteran observer, since Mahathir's attacks appeared to be directed at Rosmah for her alleged profligate spending, and there has been widespread speculation that she calls the shots in Putrajaya, Najib felt compelled to clear the air that he is not answerable to her nor does she dictate his actions.

Irrespective of who the premier had in mind, the fact is, his answers would not placate Mahathir and the octogenarian could be expected to up the ante in the coming days and weeks.

RK ANAND is a member of the Malaysiakini team.