WHO IS 'HABIBUR RAHMAN'? Mystery dark force masterminding Najib's COUNTER-ATTACK on Dr M

When news broke that Lim Kok Wing, known for his unkempt hair and captivation for the colour black, had been appointed as part of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's public relations team, it created waves on social media and blogs.

Since then, there have been a series of parodies, which depicted the prime minister sporting a similar hairstyle as the PR mogul.

On a more serious note, the appointment raised eyebrows because Lim was always seen as being close to former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is now demanding for Najib's head to roll.

Joining the bandwagon on this issue, a veteran editor advised Lim on what he should whisper into the prime minister's ear.

Ahiruddin Atan said Najib should be told to cease attacking Mahathir, because this approach was backfiring.

He said the prime minister should instead focus on defending and explaining his policies.

"I am quite certain Lim would agree with me, that the PM's existing strategy, which is to attack Mahathir, via the newspapers and prime news, is backfiring.

"I am not sure what Lim is supposed to advise Najib on. I can only hope for Najib's sake, his job scope includes managing how the mainstream media respond to attacks by Mahathir.

"Because in my opinion, they have not done the PM any favour in this department," he added in his blog Rocky's Bru.

Stop bad advice

However, Ahiruddin warned that Najib's other advisers might not take kindly to Lim overstepping into their territory.

The ideal situation, he added, is for the chief editors at New Straits Times, TV3 and Utusan Malaysia to have the gumption to put their foot down.

"And stand up against all and any bad advice coming from people claiming to have Najib's interest at heart.

"Such advisers were the start of the downfall of Pak Lah (Najib's predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) not too long ago," he pointed out.

Based on his conversations with several editors, Ahiruddin said he was informed that orders come from an advisor close to Najib.

"The same name - Habibur Rahman - kept cropping up in my conversation with them, though none could claim to have met this chap," he added. - M'kini