An Umno leader defended Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's right to clamp down on baseless criticism in relation to the 1MDB fiasco and political donations.

"He has the right to react the correct way," said Umno supreme council member Tajuddin Abdul Rahman ( photo ).

He said this on the move to deal with netizens who misuse the Internet to topple the government and the warning by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi that he will drop the hammer without warning on those who “spin” stories, which was criticised as radical and means to silence detractors.

 

In defending his boss, the Deputy Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister said Najib only chose to react after being harassed with constant criticisms.

"You are not him, you won't feel anything. He has been a target in the past two years. He was whacked every day and cursed every moment," Tajuddin told Malaysiakini yesterday.

According to the Pasir Salak MP, Najib has been treated unfairly and not given his due respect.

"You threw at him all kinds of names, (as though) he has no moral values, as though he is like rubbish and shit. Is it okay? Off course not. It is not fair to him," he said.

Responded criticisms with patience

Tajuddin claimed that Najib responded all the criticisms with patience and silence.

"But he is just a human being. His patience has its limit," he said.

Tajuddin said the time has come for Najib to react.

"When he kept quiet, you said he had no balls and questioned him for acting too soft. When he is ready to face it and takes action, you said he's too radical," he said.

Tajuddin also stressed that the freedom of expression in Malaysia is better than Singapore.

"You think you can do that in Singapore. You do that to (Singapore) Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ( photo ) and see where you will land," he added.

Besides the recent warning, Zahid had issued several stern ones to the media before.

In 2013, he manhandled a Malaysiakini reporter, telling the journalist and the news portal's editors not to "spin" his words.

Also that year, he threatened to shut down newspapers that reported him admitting that there is a shoot-to-kill policy.

 

On Saturday, the #TangkapNajib rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur fizzled out after police launched a pre-emptive strike and arrested 29 people.