Najib has no principles

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim accused Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today of being subservient to the US, and linked this to the influence of public relations consultants, APCO Worldwide.

He told Parliament that while he was friendly with Americans, he shared with his nemesis, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, an indisputable stand on Palestine and Afghanistan.

Anwar also accused Najib of “kneeling” before Barack Obama during his recent meeting with the US president.

“I have never denied my relationship with America, but even if I am friends with America, I will always put my foot down on Afghanistan. Although I do not agree on many issues with him, but Tun Mahathir always stood firm with his stand on Afghanistan and Palestine which cannot be questioned.

“[On this issue] I agree with Tun Mahathir but look at what Najib is doing? Look at Iran,” he said during the Parliamentary debate to refer him to the Rights and Privileges Committee over his accusation that Najib’s 1 Malaysia was linked to Tel Aviv’s One Israel campaign.

The Dewan Rakyat was debating on whether to refer the opposition leader to the Rights and Privileges Committee under Standing Orders 18 (2) over his claim that the Najib’s 1 Malaysia concept was linked to former Israeli prime minister, Ehud Barak’s One Israel campaign

Anwar said that APCO’s influence in Najib’s administration could be seen in the country’s policy on Iran.

“Najib is kneeling in front of Obama. Never before in our history have we witnessed this. Our policy on Iran is so defeatist.

“If it’s true that APCO has no influence, how can our foreign policies change so fast? We are seen as weak, subservient,” said Anwar, who was the third Pakatan Rakyat (PR) MP to debate the motion.

Umno MPs then rose and demanded Anwar retract his statement that Najib was “kneeling in front of Obama.”

Lawmakers began shouting and pointing at each other before the Speaker for all to be seated.

“Anwar has withdrawn his statement but you were all too loud to hear it. That is why we need to keep calm here,” said Deputy Speaker Datuk Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

Anwar had also questioned why APCO’s contract was witnessed only by the prime minister’s press secretary.

“Where were the ministers? How come no one else witnessed the signing?” he asked.

The former deputy prime minister declared that the PM has not been able to challenge his allegations.

He went further to claim that in the agreement, APCO was given access to documents classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

“I want the Home Ministry to say that Israeli intelligence did not come to this country, I want the police to deny this,” he said.

Anwar then disclosed that he had relevant documents proving APCO’s involvement, but BN continues to deny their existence.

“You can punish me, but you cannot escape from the facts. PAC has previously raised its concerns about APCO,” he said.

Last night, Najib denied that Malaysia had “kneeled” to another nation and insisted that he had met with Obama “as equals”.

Najib, during his second visit to the Hulu Selangor Parliamentary constituency, also slammed the opposition for being “spin experts” when they accused him of kowtowing to the US.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz is scheduled to wind up the debate after the lunch break.