LETTER | Ex-premier Najib Abdul Razak belittles himself by combating the Armed forces and police veterans organisation Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan (Patriot)
Little does Najib know that the Patriot is held in high esteem on the social fabric of the nation.
His advisors are certainly grossly inadequate for failing to recognise that the band of ex-servicemen and women together with its civil society Chapter, Rakan Patriot, had a pivotal role in the 14th General Elections outcome that robbed Barisan Nasional of its victory of six decades.
Perhaps it is this agony over the harsh reality of Patriot's contribution to the whole of the Malaysian society that said 'Enough is enough' that has irked Najib.
This forced him to lash out at Patriot for their recent rebuttal to Najib's slanted claim that Umno fought the communists.
Najib must be told that even though an ousted prime minister, he still must conduct himself with a certain grace.
Do not get into a ring fight and throw punches below the belt.
Yes, Patriot may not have all the country's ex-servicemen and women under its membership.
Yes Patriot's civil society body, Rakan Patriot may not have all civilian Malaysians as its members.
But the one crucial truth Najib grossly missed is numbers do not measure an organization's strength.
It is the bravery and untainted virtue of patriotism that cuts a defining edge when the going gets tough.
And the Patriots have demonstrated that courage and conviction by rising to the occasion even in their retirement in order to speak the truth and defend the nation against corruption and any hint of kleptocracy or abuse of power.
Today several NGOs and civil society leaders work in cohesion with the spirited march of the Patriot because they recognise the spirit of selfless dedication and service to nation.
Likewise, many businesses who believe in integrity and national service are working in unsung silence with Patriot.
Hence, by slighting the group and throwing punches below the belt through his Facebook, Najib has further self-stained his reputation.
Indeed it is most regrettable that a former prime minister could be so seriously misled.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.
