Referring to Shafie’s comment that Sabahans did not know Najib until he helped the latter rise politically in the state, Ainal Fattah said Shafie’s claim is tantamount to ridiculing him as a leader of the country, and can be treated as an offence under the law.
“Shafie said he had helped Najib in the political arena in Malaysia and also made his politics a success in Sabah.
“Shafie’s statement can be considered seditious under the Sedition Act 1948,” the Sabah daily quoted Ainal as saying.
Ainal, who also happens to be a cousin to Shafie, added that the reality is the reverse with Shafie owing Najib for his rise in politics.
“Shafie was just an ordinary Semporna MP, and it was Najib who picked him and made him a senior federal minister. Any right minded person would forever be grateful if he or she is in Shafie’s shoes,” Ainal said, according to Daily Express.
He was referring to how Najib had made Shafie rural and regional development minister, a key cabinet position, in 2009.
Ainal added that Najib was already known in the state long before anyone even heard about Shafie.
“Najib was already an MP at the very young age of 23. He was appointed deputy minister of energy, telecommunications and post in 1978 at the age of 25, becoming the youngest deputy minister in the country.
“He also served as the youngest menteri besar of Pahang at the age of 29, after which he was appointed as culture, youth and sports minister,” Ainal was quoted as saying.
“So, how can Shafie say he (Najib) was unknown to Sabahans?”
Shafie was a parliamentary secretary before becoming housing and local government deputy minister in 1999. From 1999 to 2004 he was deputy defence minister, a period during which Najib was the defence minister (1999-2008).
In 2004, former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appointed Shafie as domestic, trade and consumer affairs minister. After the 2008 general election, Shafie was made minister of unity, culture, arts and heritage.
He was also the first Sabahan to hold a vice-presidency in Umno.