Tok Mat-Najib relationship will not turn 'sour' after Asia Times report, say experts

SHAH ALAM – Experts say the Asia Times report on Umno's number two in command Datuk Seri Mohammad Hasan statement that ex-premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak should go to jail will not make an impact on the two leaders.

National Council of Professors Senior Fellow Prof Jeniri Amir said Mohamad did not mean in its entirety that Najib should go to jail but stressed in the need to respect the law.

“Every newspaper or media website has their own agenda and of course, they would position the statement based on their agenda.

“Due to that, I could understand that Tok Mat did not mean to say as it may have been published by Asia Times. But when the journalist wrote they might have to follow the certain style to fit in their own agendas,” he told Sinar Daily.

He was asked of Mohamad's relationship with najib would turn sour due to the report.

He believes Mohamad or commonly known as Tok Mat did not indicate that the former Prime Minister should be jailed and due to that, the statement will not have an impact on their relationship.

Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research (NASR) Senior Fellow Azmi Hassan agreed with Jeniri.

He said Tok Mat and Umno members are "not naïve to say something that could smear Najib and Umno's name.

Azmi said Tok Mat has not gone against Najib before and there are probably no issues between them.

Umno voters, he said would understand Tok Mat's denial. “After all this is a local political issue and the people would have read the denial statement."