Najib’s Portrait Was Removed From This International Expo In Milan. Here's Why
The photo was removed because people started recognising PM Najib as "the man who stole money from the country".
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 14 Dec 2016, 01:00 PM
Sacked deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, revealed that Malaysian officials had to remove a portrait of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at an international expo in Milan three years ago out of embarrassment
In a video posted by Kini TV yesterday, 13 December, Muhyiddin was explaining that the incident happened when he was in charge of building a Malaysian pavilion at an international expo in Milan, Italy
Dato' Sri Mustapa Mohamed, who is the current Minister for International Trade and Industry was apparently involved in the exhibition too.
"When the pavilion was done, I was asked to go there to officiate it. There were photos of the Seri Paduka, Permaisuri, and it couldn't have been avoided - there had to be a photo of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as well," explained Muhyiddin in the video.
"What's weird is that I was told by the officials there, that when people visit the Malaysian pavilion and come across PM Najib's photo, they stop and stare at it, saying, 'I think I know this man' as they are used to seeing him portrayed as the man who steals the country's property."
"Pegawai yang jaga malu (the officials were embarrassed), so every time people from different parts of the world come to visit the pavilion and see PM Najib's photo, they say things like that," said Muhyiddin.
He explained that the negative reaction led to the officer taking down PM Najib's photo because he didn't want people to be saying things like that about the Malaysian prime minister.
Muhyiddin, who is the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (BERSATU) president now, also stressed that he didn't make the revelation to embarrass anyone but only because it's the truth.
"Ini cerita benar and orang kata berani kerana benar (This is a true story and people say that you have to be brave when revealing the truth)," said Muhyiddin.