Following Najib Abdul Razak's 'no surrender' speech yesterday, veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin reminded the prime minister that Malaysia is no mere Bugis ship.

"It wouldn't matter (if it sank) if Malaysia is just a Bugis pinisi , but our independence is far bigger and far grander than a wooden, two-masted Bugis pinisi .

"Or are the ambitions and aspirations that the prime minister speak of just like a Bugis pinisi ?" wrote the former New Straits Times Sdn Bhd group editor-in-chief in his blog.

A pinisi is a sailing ship that originated from Indonesia. Its name and design are both derived from that of a 16th century Dutch pinnace .

Yesterday while launching the annual reports of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Najib invoked his Bugis heritage by stating that Bugis seafarers never surrender and neither would he and his administration despite "facing a raft of hurdles and attacks".

"The Bugis way is that, a vessel taken to sea cannot abandon its journey.

"Even if a tidal wave hits, breaking the rudder and tearing the sail, and even if a thousand vessels are swallowed by the ocean, it is more honourable to stay and fight than to turn back home," he said.

It was likely that Najib was alluding to the constant attacks on his leadership by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir had warned that Najib is bogged down by many controversies, such as that Altantuya Shaariibuu murder and 1Malaysia Development Bhd's problems, which would cost BN and Umno the next general election.