United States president Barack Obama must condemn Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s pandering to racists and oppressing critics, leading US newspaper Washington Post said in an editorial.
The newspaper said Obama has made a “rare show of friendship” with Najib by golfing with him last year, but Najib's actions since then may threaten the ties.
"Mr Najib may cooperate with US intelligence agencies and the trade representative, but his repression and pandering to racists and Muslim extremists risks destroying the foundations of the alliance.
“The next time Mr Obama meets his golfing buddy, he ought to make that clear,” it said.
The editorial comes after Najib defended the Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu on Wednesday, claiming Malays have been "slapped" by other communities for far too many times.
Among the concerns raised by the Washington Post was Najib's support for Wednesday's rally and its anti-Chinese sentiments.
The paper also highlighted the RM2.6 billion scandal, the arrests against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission officers investigating it, Muhyiddin Yassin's removal as deputy prime minister, and The Edge suspension as points of concern.
It also cited that Najib was toying with the idea of allowing hudud to be implemented in Kelantan, as an example of the premier pandering to fundamentalists.
However it pointed out that the Obama administration is counting on Najib's support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership to make the free trade deal a reality.
"Nevertheless, Nurul Izzah Anwar, who visited Washington this week, had a good question for the administration officials she met: 'For all that you are investing in Malaysia, are you getting your money’s worth?'," The Washington Post said.
The TPPA has been five years in the making and is reportedly nearing completion.
Next year will be Obama's last in the oval office.
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