Corporate sector abandoning Najib, says columnist
KUALA LUMPUR — Embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak suffers from lack of support from the corporate sector, especially government-linked companies (GLCs), former Dewan Negara president Adam A. Kadir said today (June 20).
KUALA LUMPUR — Embattled Prime Minister Najib Razak suffers from lack of support from the corporate sector, especially government-linked companies (GLCs), former Dewan Negara president Adam A. Kadir said today (June 20).
In his column in Bahasa Malaysia-language daily Sinar Harian, Mr Adam said not a single corporate figure was speaking out in defence of Mr Najib, who is now under attack from Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well as the opposition.
He said those coming to Mr Najib’s defence were mainly politicians.
“Some are showing their support in groups, some are forced to condemn the prime minister’s critics, others are forced to set up groups to attack the integrity of his critics.
“But where are the corporate figures who earn even more than the prime minister himself?” wrote Mr Adam.
The former Pos Malaysia chairman said that instead of defending Mr Najib, the corporate sector felt it was natural for prime ministers to come and go.
Meanwhile, politicians were often sidelined by the corporate sector, despite having professional qualifications, he said.
“Many MPs, state assemblymen, former politicians with background in accounting, law, economy who apply for jobs in the corporate sector are passed over, even though this wealthy sector was created through political decisions,” said Mr Adam.
He said this was why Mr Najib could gain little support from politicians who failed in their bid to apply for a corporate post.
“The prime minister’s problem is that he receives little support from politicians, all because the corporates sideline them,” he said.
He added that Mr Najib’s annual salary of RM285,000 (S$101,670) was nothing compared with those who lead GLCs.
“When you compare it with the salaries of executives of GLCs, his salary is the same as middle-level staff. The CEO earn millions of ringgit, and this does not include the bonuses which also goes up to millions of ringgit,” said Mr Adam. THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER