On his first day as the prime minister, Najib announced the release of 13 ISA detainees. He had promised to comprehensively review the NEP. Two days before the polling date, he announced his 1Malaysia grand vision, like other premiers before him did.
Najib's PR team (an expensively assembled team comprises of editorial heads and ex-heads of various MSM) was desperate to turn around his image as an iron fisted autocrat. Unfortunately, like his predecessor Abdullah, Najib's initiative was neutralised by yet another poorly taken strategy to embrace Mahathir so quickly and warmly.
If Najib wanted to lose the 'autocratic image', the last thing he should do is to build an alliance with Mahathir so quickly. Mahathir's 22 years legacy had very little to do with the respect for democracy, human rights, respect for the rule of law and accountability. Mahathir treated Malaysians as gullible and naive.
Mahathir's achievements e.g. physical and industrial development were largely bought with Malaysia's hard earned oil money. What did Malaysia gain technically from the mega projects such as KLCC, Penang bridge, Proton, Bakun and many others? Have we mastered the technology to build our own cars which are competitive worldwide? Under his leadership, the quality of other soft areas e.g. education, public institutions and others has declined.
Najib has chosen the wrong pop star to align himself with. Mahathir may be treated like a pop star in UMNO but not among middle ground Malaysians.
There is every reason to believe that Najib may soon be following Abdullah's footsteps. His release of the 13 ISA detainees did not earn him any brownie point. It was done without a real sincerity to amend his government's mistake in detaining these suspects without a fair trial. Hindraf leaders who were released were subjected to various restrictions on their mobility and activity. Due to these restrictions, both Manoharan and Uthayakumar had rejected the offer.
Next, it is left to be seen what Najib intends to do with the draconian law. Is his government willing to compensate those who were detained without being charged in courts?
His reform agenda must also include these areas:
1) A comprehensive review of the education system. Parties blaming the vernacular schools as the main obstacle to national unity must be asked to check their facts. These schools should not become a punching bag to hide the excessive politicking amongst political parties, NGOs, individuals and stakeholders. He must deracialise, depoliticize and make education as an important socio-economic tool to help this country to develop. In short, improve the schools. Kick bigots out of the system. The idea mooted by Hishammudin to allow teachers to participate in active politics is bound to worsen politicking in the schools.
2) Repeal the ISA immediately. Modernise our criminal and security regulations and preventive measures. He must review the wide police power to detain a person without trial. Police duties and investigation work must be made consistent and compliant to international standards. Implement the full fledged IPCMC.
3) Repeal the NEP. This is the cause of public sector corruption. The government must review its involvement in the economy. It will be difficult to expect the private sector to lead growth if the government interferes directly in the process by setting quotas and ceilings.
Najib must avoid dishing out 'instant noodle' reform. One thing for sure, Abdullah's administration is not the lowest ebb of BN government yet. Things can still go worse than the last 5 years.
Can Najib still deliver? The journey to reform is not for the faint hearted.