Najib's 'resignation' draws reactions online

A false statement about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak resigning, believed to be the work of hackers, has set some tongues wagging in cyberspace.

One twitter user @adriene concluded it was either an intrusion, or an insider, who created the false statement originating from the Information Department.

"Najib letak jawatan" Either someone hacked into Jabatan Penerangan or there's a gremlin working in there :D #yorais ow.ly/hNrwU
— adriene (@adriene) February 18, 2013

Several others joked about the apparent strange statement coming from the government agency under the Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture, with at least one commenting that it was quite uncharacteristic for a Malaysian politician to resign, or apologise.

Actually, 4 M'sian PMs have quit while in office RT @syahredzan: You're more likely to see a Pope resign than a Malaysian politician resign.
— Jahabar Sadiq (@jsadiq) February 11, 2013

There were those, who also sympathised with the UMNO president, with one asking why there were those attempting to “bully” Najib. While another user linked the whole thing to the recent deportation of Australian Senator Nick Xenophon.

Perdana Menteri Malaysia Najib Razak Nafi Letak Jawatan.: Ini untuk hebahan segera. Alahai kenapa la korang buli... bit.ly/UwVZ5I
— Azril Ramli (@AzrilRamli30) February 18, 2013

Deporting Senator Nick is to make Najib looks bad and propaganda to pressure him to resign as PM before GE?? Now he has to answer Aust PM!
— AlanLingSieKiong 林思健 (@alanling2tweet) February 17, 2013

Yesterday, former premier Tun Dr mahathir Mohamad spoke out against total freedom of the internet, saying that he would rather be censored by the government than allow his blog to be hacked.

He remarked that internet allows the truth to become lies, and vice versa.

The Information Department today denied issuing the statement, which stated that Najib has “officially resigned as the prime minister of Malaysia upon pressure by the people”. The ‘statement’ also said that Najib apologises to opposition leaders for defaming them.

Last year in August, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim ‘apologised’ to Najib in a Hari Raya message through his blog for his various 'transgressions'. Anwar claimed it was the work of hackers, blaming the attack on UMNO.

See also Information department deny PM's resignation.