2 Prime Ministers in South East Asia become the media spotlight in the past one week for different reasons.
However, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has apologised on Monday that a dispute with his siblings over their late father Lee Kuan Yew’s will has had an impact on citizens’ confidence in the government.
In a statement to the nation that was also recorded on video, he announced that he will deliver a ministerial statement when Parliament sits again on July 3 to “refute the charges” levelled against him by his siblings Lee Wei Ling and Lee Hsien Yang.
PM Lee has even instructed that the PAP party whip be lifted that day so that all members of Parliament will have the opportunity to raise questions for themselves and their constituents.
Across the straits, the scandal that involving our PM and his wife is only more disgraceful and disreputable than the one involving PM Lee.
The one throwing accusation against our PM is not his siblings, but US Department of Justice. While the sentimental and historical value of 38 Oxley Road home that Mr Lee Kuan Yew had lived in is immeasurable, the DoJ in their civil action suits alleged that more than USD4.5 billion in total was taken from 1MDB by high-level fund officials and their associates.
If PM Najib cares about not only his reputation, but more importantly Malaysia’s reputation and Malaysians’ confidence in the government, he should emulate PM Lee, first apologise to all Malaysians, then deliver a ministerial statement in Parliament, and lift the party whip so that not only opposition MPs, but MPs from BN can also raise questions!
PM Lee is the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, who was the first Prime Minister of Singapore. Coincidently, PM Najib is also the eldest son of Tun Abdul Razak Hussein who was the second Prime Minister of Malaysia.
PM Lee’s move to give a ministerial statement in Parliament has earned praise for his transparency and openness, at least on his personal Facebook.
Why can’t PM Najib, learn from his counterpart, for at least once, if he indeed is innocent?