KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 3): The political comeback of a person convicted for corruption as the 10th or 11th prime minister would have serious implications for the future of Malaysia, said veteran politician Lim Kit Siang.

In a statement on Thursday (Feb 3), the DAP Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri denied that he was being too obsessed with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and said if a convicted criminal of corruption could make a political comeback, then it means that the second effort to save Malaysia from becoming a kleptocracy, kakistocracy and a failed state had failed.

On Wednesday, Kit Siang asked if Najib will be Umno’s pick as the next prime minister, while admitting the former leader’s influence and attempt at making a political comeback.

Kit Siang claimed the soon-to-be-held Johor election will be a dry run for Najib in his venture to return to helm Putrajaya.

He argued the country had veered away from the founding fathers on the question of ethics and integrity.

“There was no question about the commitment of the first three prime ministers of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn in the battle to fight corruption but today Malaysia is struggling to have a clear break from kleptocracy and no help is coming from the party of Tunku, Razak and Hussein.

“It is a sad commentary on the nation-building process that after six decades, many Malaysians still think of themselves as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and Ibans first instead of as Malaysian first and it is so easy to spark inter-racial or inter-religious suspicion, distrust and hatred,” he said.