Why Najib’s Al Jazeera interview is grim reminder of clownish performance 

Mustafa K. Anuar Mustafa K. Anuar Updated 7 years ago · Published on 29 Oct 2018 5:23PM · 11 Comments

Najib Razak's body language speaks volumes, giving away far more what his verbal articulations, with his head often tilting to his left while the eyes shift away from his interviewer's. – Pic courtesy of Al Jazeera, October 29, 2018.

THE recent Al Jazeera interview with former prime minister Najib Razak serves as a cautionary note to other politicians as well as the journalistic fraternity that Malaysia needs to raise the bar much higher when it comes to TV performance of public figures.

It is especially so when it comes to interviews with past prime ministers who should have the stature to hold court in a brilliant fashion.

Najib, who had long been “schooled” by a pliant mainstream media that he governed, should have been made known at least by his media advisers that having an interview with international media, such as Al Jazeera, is no Sunday picnic. If anything, it can turn out to be a Sunday grill.

Najib was often mollycoddled by fawning Malaysian journalists during his administration so that he eventually got an easy ride in press conferences, which, by the way, were few and far between.

We are mindful of an occasion – after the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal exploded onto the international scene – where he invited a few selected journalists to “explain” what the controversy was all about from his viewpoint. 

Najib’s misdemeanour has resulted in viewers remembering more of how he stormed out of the Al Jazeera interview than what he had expressed in the programme. 

Additionally, his body language spoke volumes, giving away far more than what he articulated. His head often tilted to his left while the eyes shifted away from Mary Ann Jolley’s, his interviewer.

All this doesn’t contribute to the reduction of public suspicion over the colossal misdeeds allegedly associated with Najib and his administration. 

It also did not help that he did not answer directly or clearly the questions posed by Jolley. He made a number of assumptions or assertions in his response that are questionable. 

Didn’t Najib realise that he wasn’t trading words with some nondescript person and subsequently leaving in a huff at a Halloween warehouse sale, but in a programme that was being broadcasted  to gaping TV viewers worldwide? 

Surely, he knew that he’d be asked tough questions in the wake of his political downfall, the police raids on his house and other apartments, and especially the unravelling of the internationally known scandal surrounding 1MDB. 

Jolley might have been away from Malaysia since her deportation in 2015 by the Najib administration – for having conducted investigative journalism on the gruesome murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaarriibuu – but she was well aware that the issues she raised in the interview with Najib, particularly the Altantuya murder and the heinous crime of 1MDB, were much more important than the issue of Selangor water crisis of yore. 

Najib was known to have consciously prioritised the Selangor water issue over other more pressing problems in recent past. 

Very often in a TV interview, politicians are pressed on the spot to account for what they have done or will do in future. Najib should be aware of that – and be ready with answers, convincing ones at that.

As regards the money in Najib’s account that supposedly came from the Saudi government in support of him, one wonders – if it were true – whether this Saudi gesture is tantamount to interfering with Malaysian politics.

On a positive note, it is hoped that the Al Jazeera interview will serve as a preview to a freer Malaysian media that would no longer brook patronising or condescending attitude of politicians in a “New Malaysia”, especially during press conferences.

Tough questions posed should not be construed as journalists being rude even to the most revered of political leaders. It’s part and parcel of journalism. 

Oh! But then, it’s time we talked about the economy.  – October 29, 2018.

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Comments

  • Too simplistic, this write-up! Najib shifts his eyes away from Jolley - he could just be trying to recall events/details to answer her with?..

    Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • Having some 38 criminal charges in court hanging over his head (like the Greek sword of Damocles) and also affected by the charges against his wife as well, a man can certainly be excused for having some lack of composure during a media interview?..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • Also, to not answer clearly or directly some of the questions posed to him can mean that he himself lacks some of the knowledge/information to do so? The 1MDB matter is very much a mind-boggling affair of international ramifications with some answers still missing or beyond the reach of the authorities and the law. So Najib cannot be faulted on the missing, or lack of, info?..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • The foregoing scenario being the case, he therefore had to put forth some assumptions and assertions?..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • Dr. Mahathir was quite recently interviewed on BBC London's HardTalk programme? Najib should try to get an interview set up with their Zenab Badawi via tele-conferencing from London, since he can't leave Malaysia because his passport is impounded by Immigration? He will possibly find that she conducts a reasonably fair interview..

      Posted 7 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Najib 1MDB is already nailed. When is AG going to take up on Deepak interview in his allegations of Najib and Rosmah involvement in the murder of Altantuya. Let justice be served. It will good to see both the evil couples being hanged for such a heinous crime. Forget about Sirul in Aussie land Lets squeeze Azilah who is in the local slammers. Pass Azilah to our local "Singh is king" and he will squealed.

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • As a former journo, Ive never felt the need to water down my questions to those I interview. But I can certainly understand why many, especially in mainstream, would tame or leave out the pressing questions. Political implications were aplenty and everyone was being careful. The Edge was a prime example. Hopefully, with a more freer regime, we can start training and steeling ourselves to ask the difficult questions and stand ground.

    Posted 7 years ago by Aziff Azuddin · Reply

  • Jolley's conduct during the interview was excellent compared to the Sinar TV interview of TDM. I wish the interviewer had shown more respect to TDM in his mannerism. Must he sit so close to him.

    Posted 7 years ago by Shaikh karim · Reply

  • MP Pekan should resign completely from being Ketua Bahagian n get coaching by his legal team how to face cross examination at the trial.

    Posted 7 years ago by Ramakrishnan Thangavelu · Reply

  • Najib was caught with his pants down by a journalist who came well prepared. Even without the audio, Najib's defence was torn to shreds and he left the scene with his tail in between his legs.

    Posted 7 years ago by Roger 5201 · Reply

  • Maybe our schools that teach journalism should rethink the syllabus on being prepared with facts and formulate tough questions that get to the crux of the matter. Maybe the grading of jourlist should also be questioned. For years Malaysian journalist and people that conduct TV interviews like Ruang Bicara ask childish nonsense.

    Posted 7 years ago by Alphonz Jayaraman · Reply