Najib did the APCO way......

The truth is always out there. Prime Minister Najib Razak is learning this painfully slow after efforts to finish Anwar politically by ensuring he has no standing left internationally backfired.

Najib's desperation in wanting to keep Anwar, the former prime minister who found the tables turned on him after he was charged with sodomy and corruption during the Dr Mahathir Mohamad regime, was no match for Anwar's determination to return and that too with a vengence. Anwar's modus operandi was simple - reform the people's mindset which in turn will lead to a paradigm shift in the country' administration. To an extent, Anwar tasted success and this was what frightened Najib.

Realising Anwar's following, Najib realised desperate times called for desperate measures, hence the latter's tie-up with Apco Worldwide, Najib's New-York based strategic communications firm. Acting as the puppet master behind Najib's foreign policies, Apco's work was cut out for it - 'terminate' Anwar by hook or crook. Najib is determined to get rid of Anwar at all costs, so much so that he was willing to pay propaganda firm Apco any amount. And in August 2009 this PR and rebranding company set foot in Malaysia, establishing office in Kuala Lumpur. As predicted, Apco's first client was Najib's administration.

With his spin-masters in place, Najib perhaps was relieved, presuming the task of closing the Anwar Ibrahim chapter would be easier. To Apco, what better way to mislead Malaysians into justifying its existence in KL other than for its president and chief executive officer Margery Kraus to display the firm's spin-doctor skills by saying: “As Malaysia moves forward, the government wants to ensure that it is able to provide information to the public quickly and transparently, making use of all relevant new technologies. "Our team in Kuala Lumpur will include seasoned professionals from many countries, including Malaysia, who are on the cutting edge of new media. They will work to assist in strengthening the government’s online and other strategic communication capabilities to speed the delivery of accurate information to the media and public.”

If indeed transparency was Najib's concern, it certainly did not show when he decided to turn bloggers and news portals as scapegoats, accusing them of producing lies which can cause the Barisan Nasional yet another setback in the coming general election, to rationale why he wanted to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Manipulating truth the Najib-Apco way

When Anwar claimed that Apco had connections with Israel and had helped re-brand Malaysia along the same lines it had Israel through the 1Israel concept, Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein challenged the opposition leader to furnish proof over this claim. And in a typical 'shoot the messenger' attitude, Anwar faced six months suspension from Parliament. "Expose it. What is Anwar afraid of?" was Hishamuddin's retort.

More spinning came when on July 10 last year Umno-controlled Utusan Malaysia claimed Anwar had paid CNN to interview him. Anwar decided enough was enough and demanded an apology from the newspaper. Anwar also decided to file a defamation suit and demanded RM50 million in compensation should the Malay daily refuse to apologise within seven days. Utusan reported that Anwar paid CNN in a bid to restore the confidence of Jewish lobbyists in Washington. The daily went so far as to quote an article written by Joshua Trevino in the The New Ledger who said the interview was staged to fulfil Anwar’s mission. Trevino further alleged that CNN’s ‘Connector of the Day’ interview on July 2 was “tame” in questioning Anwar’s anti-Zionist rhetoric.

To Anwar's detractors, it was easier to believe that his visit to the United States was an 'apologetic' move after Anwar accused Najib's government of having ties with Apco which in turn had links to the Isreali government. Umno vice-president Mohd Shapie Apdal was all taken in by the Utusan story saying it was not surprising for Anwar to pay CNN adding that Anwar would do anything to become prime minister. While Najib's spin masters worked overtime to nail Anwar's coffin, it was not long before CNN came out and denied ever having received any payment from Anwar, saying Trevino's report was fabricated. - Jeswan Kaur.

source:malaysia chronicles

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