"Dad, beware, the world has gone right-wing!"

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL. A group of Indonesian journalists flown in by Sime Darby to KL for the Nattional Press Club-Naza Awards Nite recently had the opportunity to be introduced to Najib Razak, who graced the event. They shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. The following evening, over dinner hosted by Musa Hitam, the leader of the Indonesian delegation said they were surprised by how accessible the Prime Minister was. Translate: ... how lax the PM's security was. Not in Indonesia. Not in many countries. 

It has been like that for as long as we remember. Many of us who were reporting when Dr Mahathir was PM had found ourselves practically standing nose-to-nose with the man when we swarmed him for his quotes. Often, the PM would have to practically dodge the microphone that someone was shoving into his face, or he'd get a bloody nose! Yes, that close!

Mahathir's successor must have been like that, too, as Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was usually an accessible man. Or not (I can't remember much of those 5 lost years!). And so is Najib, as the Indonesian journalists have discovered.

But, perhaps, it's time we stop taking things for granted. With all the lunatics around the world shooting down innocent people like flies and bombing their PM's office, maybe being accessible is not too good an idea anymore.

Just look at this still shot:

Right leg out, left arm out, shoulders tight .. Perhaps this guy is trying to kiss the PM's hand, eh?

The PM froze.
Good thing his men were quick.

Watch the video, HERE.