NAJIB Razak today asked if Putrajaya has ordered its government officials and politicians to refrain from participating in a forum with him this evening.

The former prime minister said many of the speakers who had agreed to take part in the event had pulled out at the last minute.

“Before any party from the other side creates propaganda that Najib is abetting PH because opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and a few other PH leaders are present (at the forum), I would like to say that several Bersatu leaders, including Dewan Negara Speaker Rais Yatim and government ministers, pulled out at the last minute,” Najib said on Facebook.

He said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun had also changed his mind at the last minute about taking part in the  forum.

“When I agreed (to be part of it), Rais Yatim was scheduled to deliver the opening address in the non-partisan forum,” he said.

“I am not sure why they have withdrawn at the last minute. It may be due to an order from the government,” he mused.

The Malaysia Democracy forum at the InterContinental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur today features leaders from both sides of the political divide.

Anwar, Teresa Kok and Khalid Samad are among the speakers from the opposition.

Najib’s former cabinet members such as former foreign minister Anifah Aman and former health minister S Subramaniam are also in the line-up.

Najib aside, Umno is represented at the forum by Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki and Shahril Hamdan.

The forum is organised by the International Strategy Institute and supported by the Malaysian parliament. – March 30, 2021.