Malaysia sliding into ‘a game of thrones’, Nazir Razak warns

KUALA LUMPUR — Mr Nazir Razak today (July 29) urged Malaysians to defend the integrity of the country’s institutions, warning that Malaysia will slide into “a game of thrones” amid a Cabinet purge by his brother Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The CIMB Group chairman also quoted a line from the popular fantasy drama TV series, based on George R R Martin’s novels, that chronicles bloody dynastic struggles among several noble families.

“You win or you die,” said a photo posted by Mr Nazir on his Instagram account, showing the character Eddard “Ned” Stark, played by English actor Sean Bean.

In the series, Stark had met an early gruesome end for keeping his virtuous and honourable code amid the corrupt and treacherous political landscape.

“Through this political turmoil, we must preserve and protect the integrity of our institutions or we descend into a game of thrones,” Mr Nazir said in an accompanying caption.

The post had received over 200 likes at the time of writing.

Mr Nazir’s post comes a day after a hastily-convened news conference in Putrajaya, where Mr Najib dropped his deputy Mr Muhyiddin Yassin in a cabinet reshuffle.

Mr Muhyiddin had during the weekend urged Najib to satisfactorily explain the debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) controversy, claiming that he and other ministers were unaware of the “real facts”.

Mr Nazir has been critical of 1MDB and its directors’ handling of the allegations against the state-owned investment firm, at one point saying they should resign for failing to actively dispel suspicions over its finances.

Last week, Mr Nazir had on Instagram criticised the three-month suspension of two flagship titles of The Edge Media Group, explaining later that he was standing up for freedom of expression. MALAY MAIL ONLINE