Doesn’t sound like a genuine offer from Najib

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak says the government has been transparent in the methodology and data used to calculate the 18.9% equity ownership by bumiputras.

He then goes on to say (in NST):

"If there are those who are still sceptical, we can reveal the methodology applied."

The question is on whose judgments are these skepticism gauged? I ask this because going by past experiences, I know where this offer by Najib is heading.

What will happen is this:

The media, especially the alternatives like malaysiakini, will try to get support from politicians, non-governmental organisations and the civil society who remain sceptical over the government figures and want full transparency on the calculation.

And then these voices will be taken to Najib or his boss the prime minister, asking them that since there are enough sceptics around, will the government stay true to its words and reveal more.

However by then what will happen is that the government will say that it had heard enough from the people who are satisfied with the government’s explanation.

When pointed to these sceptics, a ready reply will be forthcoming, that these people are a bunch of regular troublemakers who have nothing better to do than to criticize the government.

Believe me, this is the path the government has been taking all along and shall continue to do so.

If Najib is genuine in his intention to reveal the full data, why make it with a qualification? Just come out and reveal the full methodology now - just like opposition leader Lim Kit Siang says - without “ any qualification, reservation or procrastination”.