BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Bigger Picture  >  Beyond The Ballot Box  >  Is the Government Going Too Soft on Najib?

Is the Government Going Too Soft on Najib?

Pushpan Murugiah, CEO, Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4)

04-Feb-25 15:00

Is the Government Going Too Soft on Najib?

In an interview with the Financial Times, when asked about the reduced prison sentence for former Prime Minister Najib Razak, current Prime Minister Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that he does not wish for Najib to suffer in “hell” as he once did. This is of course amidst ongoing conversations on the possibility that Najib could be granted house arrest for the rest of his sentence, although it has to be said that such laws do not yet exist in Malaysia. 

In response to that, the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism released a statement recently saying “enough is enough! Why has the tone of the Madani government been so sympathetic to Najib Razak? Have they forgotten the sheer scale of his crimes?”

So, has the MADANI government, led by Prime Minister Anwar, forgotten its reformist roots or is it just smart and meticulous politicking to manage the political climate and maintain stability? 

We speak to Pushpan Murugiah, who’s the CEO of Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4). 


In this episode,we discuss:

  • The framing of Najib's reduced sentence as a human rights issue.

  • The political challenges faced by the MADANI government. How to strike a balance between navigating a large coalition of varying interests and being steadfast in executing the anti-corruption agenda.

  • Why the Prime Minister and his team must communicate with the people in a more transparent way.

  • Does Malaysia need a 1977 Hong Kong-style Amnesty? In 1977, Hong Kong’s newly established ICAC granted amnesty for past corruption to quell police resistance, allowing strict anti-corruption enforcement moving forward.

  • The three key areas of reform the government must implement.

Produced by: Dashran Yohan

Presented by: Dashran Yohan


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  politics,  government,  corruption

Tags:  corruption,  anti-corruption,  anwar ibrahim,  najib razak,  1mdb,  src,  madani,  attorney-general’s chambers,  public prosecutor,  reformasi,  institutional reform, 


Latest Podcasts




Play / Pause

Listen now : BFM 89.9 -- The Business Station

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Laurent Lequeu, Independent Market Analyst & Writer, The Macro Butler tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

John Zogby, Founder of Zogby Strategies, weighs in on how the US views the latest strikes on Iran.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Ng Zhu Hann, Founder & CEO of Tradeview Capital talks about EPF's dividend announcement.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Adam D. Dixon, Adam Smith Chair and Director of Panmure House discusses state capitalism, geopolitics, and implications on Malaysia.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

P. Gunasegaram, Independent Business Writer, examines whether Vantris Energy Bhd’s RM480 million government support is a recovery plan or a bailout.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

Dr James Dorsey, Adjunct Senior Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, provides the Iran's perspective on the recent US-Israeli attack of the country.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Laurent Lequeu, Independent Market Analyst & Writer, The Macro Butler tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) We take a look at the FBM KLCI as well as regional capital markets.

9:35 AM

Pinnacle Perspectives

Ts. Syed Saggaf Syed Ahmad, President of MOGSC discusses how Malaysia’s oil and gas sector can navigate challenges after the 2025 Petronas Activity Outlook shortfall.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

From one restaurant in 1990 to a multi-brand F&B group, Serai’s journey spans generations. We speak with the family behind Serai Group about capital, growth and what it takes to sustain a restaurant business for over three decades.

11:05 AM

FTA

Hassan Alsagoff (Regional Head of Loyalty and Marketing), Grab

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

As the US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s tariff play, new mechanics for a 10% global tax are already emerging. Dr. Carmelo Ferlito argues that protectionism is a "civilisational retreat" that makes societies poorer and starves innovation. Discover why in this conversation.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille (REPEAT)

Adam D. Dixon, Adam Smith Chair and Director of Panmure House discusses state capitalism, geopolitics, and implications on Malaysia.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Earth Matters

In one month, Orang Asli communities faced evictions, arrests and logging without consent. Are reform promises failing? Koong Hui Yein, a Programme Manager at RimbaWatch, explains what is at stake.

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Grief is never linear. Some people go through the five stages of grief, but some don’t. We speak to a counsellor about what you need to know about grieving.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Today I Learned

What Stories Lie in The Forgotten Valley of Wang Kelian?

7:00 PM

Just For Kicks

Set-piece goals were the way to go as Arsenal won their battle against London neighbours Chelsea. We review that game, and many others, on this episode!

8:00 PM

A Bit of Culture

Kam Raslan, Matt Armitage and Hafiz Noor Shams sit together to talk about technology's effects on pop culture, reading the manual and books becoming luxury items.