NAJIB Razak took his “bossku” campaign to the PAS fortress of Kelantan – to rebrand himself into a hero of the Malays and to court the Islamist party’s supporters ahead of his corruption trial next week and at the 15th general election.

Political analysts said the trip to Kelantan, which PAS has controlled for nearly three decades, was also part of Umno’s plan to win over the Islamist party’s hardcore supporters to the idea of a new Barisan Nasional-PAS pact for GE15.

Najib’s critics said he will benefit immensely from such a pact. However, it remains to be seen whether Najib can convince PAS’ most ardent supporters to buy into the idea given that his name is tied to the globe-spanning 1MDB scandal.

At its most basic level, the “Malu Apa Bossku” roadshows are about re-inventing Najib’s image, said political scientist Tunku Mohar Mohd Mokhtar.

“By meeting the people, he is trying to create the image that he is innocent of the charges levelled against him,” said Tunku Mohar of the International Islamic University.

“In that sense, personally I think this is part of his public relations campaign. After all, his strategy has always been ‘brand Najib’.”

Another political scientist, Awang Azman Awang Pawi, said the trip was part of Najib’s plan to eventually return to mainstream politics by courting working-class Malay voters.

“If you look at it, this is why he does things like going on a motorbike. This is to endear himself to the working-class because middle-class Malays have rejected him,” said Awang Azman from Universiti Malaya.

Najib is currently facing 42 charges of corruption, abuse of power and money laundering related to billions of ringgit allegedly stolen from state firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), where he was the chief advisor when he was prime minister.

His first trial for allegedly misappropriating RM42 million from 1MBD subsidiary SRC International is scheduled to begin this Wednesday.

Mending a historic animosity

Najib was in Kota Baru yesterday, where he visited the Kelantan Umno headquarters and held a meet-the-people session in the Siti Khatijah market.

He was also the VIP at a Muay Thai boxing competition in Pantai Irama, Bachok. Najib will return to Kuala Lumpur today and is scheduled to continue his “bossku” roadshow in several coastal districts in Selangor tomorrow.

Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Najib is attempting to expand the “bossku” brand to Malay heartland areas after seeing its success in two by-elections this year, where his events drew sizable crowds of young Malays.

“He wanted to test the ‘bossku’ brand in a state which is deeply religious and also Umno’s influence post-GE14.”

Mazlan said the event was also a way to bring the PAS grassroots closer to Umno as their ties are still weak in these states due to the historic rivalry between the two parties.

All the analysts told The Malaysian Insight they were sceptical that Najib could bridge the chasm between the supporters of both parties in Kelantan given their painful history.

PAS broke away from the BN federal government in 1978 after the latter declared a state of emergency in Kelantan.

And in the 25 years that the state government was headed by Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat starting in 1990, the PAS spiritual leader had instilled a deep distrust towards Umno.

“The grassroots in Kelantan has a long history of adversary, and their target audience is the same,” said IIUM’s Tunku Mohar.

“I believe success depends on how PAS Kelantan leadership’s reception to Najib. The grassroots in Kelantan are waiting for such signal, and will follow the leadership.” – March 30, 2019.