pn931. Former PM Jailed: Malaysia, a nation " caught in the grip of a political culture that normalizes corruption, racism, and religious extremism."

Former PM Nazib Razak

Once we sent troops there, supposedly to protect their freedom; now our media never mentions Malaysia. With a nearly defunct print media and with the 6 o'clock  TV news lasting 20 minutes (deduct time from ads, sport and the weather, and the 10pm news merely a repeat) it's no wonder we know so little about other counties. 

Cautious optimism as Najib goes to jail by Dennis Ignatius ** Asia Sentinel     -   29 Aug 22

As a nation, Malaysia has been struggling for a long time, caught in the grip of a political culture that normalizes corruption, racism, and religious extremism. So many things have gone so wrong that many have wondered whether we are too far gone to find our way back to the kind of nation envisaged by our founding fathers – a free and democratic nation premised upon respect for diversity and the rule of law.

The seismic event that unfolded in the Palace of Justice this week, however, has restored hope that perhaps all is not lost after all.

For four long years, Najib Razak’s corruption trial has meandered its way through the courts. He tried every trick in the book to delay, to deny, to deflect the charges. He tried to undermine the justice system, discredit the high court judge and disqualify the Chief Justice. He invoked religion. He schemed to bring down the government. But our system of governance, frail though it may be, held, and today one of the most powerful men in the country is behind bars. Few believed this day would ever come.