He also denied it was a tit-for-tat to Umno’s essay competition on DAP leader Lim Kit Siang being a racist and anti-Islam, which he considered a political gimmick and a sad reflection of what the Malay party had descended into.
In his latest blog posting, the former law minister said that if he were a participant in his own essay competition, he would centre his argument around Najib’s “wanton disregard for truth”.
Zaid said the Prime Minister used his office to create doubt in the minds of the people about what was and wasn’t real because the line between truth and lies was often blurred.
“Facts are spun into conspiracies and the opinions of those he disagrees with become a crime,” Zaid said of Najib’s leadership style.
Zaid likened Najib to US President Donald Trump, but with three exceptions – the United States of America still had a free press, observed the separation of government institutions from the president’s office and had an education system that promoted critical thinking.
“That’s why we have bomohs who seek to find missing airplanes using coconuts, why students believe drinking holy water can give them As in their exams and why PAS still has followers who believe this party can help them get into heaven.”
He also said the country’s government institutions were too politicised and those at the helm too fearful of the PM while the media was in the hands of the Barisan Nasional.
He said there were many “other good reasons” why the PM had failed the people and invited those who wished to participate in his essay competition to submit their entries before the Sept 30 deadline.