Ahead of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's visit to the United States next week, a US daily has published a scathing opinion editorial (op-ed) on him.
In the op-ed published in The Washington Post on Sept 3, the daily's columnist Josh Rogin went on to list down the similarities and differences between Najib and US President Donald Trump.
The two, Rogin said, actually have quite a lot in common. Describing Najib as a "nationalist with authoritarian tendencies", he pointed out how both leaders are currently wrapped up in major investigations involving the US Department of Justice.
"Both have fired top law enforcement officials in their own governments to try to influence those investigations. Both play politically toward their rural, ethnically homogeneous base and use nationalist rhetoric to stir up anger against their more urban, ethnic opposition.
"Both men won their last election despite losing the popular vote. Both love golf, and they even played together once," Rogin noted.
Despite the similarities, he said, Najib's "authoritarian power grab" was worse than anything Trump had done.
Although Trump has called for his political opponents to be jailed, Rogin noted how critics of the Malaysian government have been routinely imprisoned.
"While Trump uses mere rhetoric to undermine the credibility of the free media, Najib uses criminal law to silence them.
"While Trump may wish for more compliant judicial and legislative branches, in Malaysia all checks and balances on executive power have been essentially stamped out."
Rogin went on to quote Human Rights Watch Asia advocacy director John Sifton, who said that Trump probably wishes that he had the tools that Najib has at his disposal.
“President Trump, I’m sure, would enjoy having the capacity to shut down any newspaper he doesn’t like.”
Why visit is important to Najib
Noting how the general election in Malaysia has to be called soon, Rogin said this is why the White House visit is particularly important to Najib.
"Engulfed by allegations he pilfered billions from his own country’s sovereign wealth fund, he craves international legitimacy."
With the DOJ's lawsuit which seeks to seize billions allegedly misappropriated from state investment arm 1MDB, Rogin said the Najib’s visit is meant to show "the scandal is not harming his world standing".
"Trump’s hospitality, including a White House visit, will send a clear signal to Malaysians that his administration, like its predecessors, won’t push back against the rollback of democracy, rule of law and human rights there."
Rogin also cited opposition leader Nurul Izzah Anwar, who is of the opinion that the White House was sending a message that "it pays to be a kleptocrat".
"And that the largest asset seizure in the history of the Department of Justice doesn’t seem to matter much in the great scheme of things,” Nurul Izzah said.
Malaysia’s value as a reliable and stable ally to the US, said Rogin, depends on it being an open society that abides by international law and norms and tolerates dissent.
"Trump’s hosting of Najib represents a setback for that objective," he said.
Trump is expected to welcome Najib to the White House in Washington on Sept 12.
The Malaysian Foreign Ministry has said that Najib was making a working visit to Washington DC, at the invitation of Trump.
It said Malaysia and the US looked forward to celebrating the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties, and that the relations have been enhanced under Najib’s leadership to a comprehensive partnership based on shared interests.
