We’ve all been there — you say black-tie, we could have sworn you said tie-dye, and thus we appear to be severely under-dressed for a formal occasion, grinning our way through it as aunties quietly wonder if we’ve lost the plot.
Former Prime Minister Najib Razak, currently on trial for over 40 graft charges, but still enjoying popularity among the masses who perhaps choose not to read the rap sheet fine print, found himself in a bit of a Cinderella moment yesterday.
Noticeably absent from the formal installation that welcomed the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Najib took to his Facebook account to explain his absence, saying that his last-minute seat change from the former PM section (seat 10, in case you were wondering), to that reserved for Pahang nobility, left him without the appropriate official garbs.
“The ceremonial costume for Pahang nobles and that of former PMs are different. Each position has its protocol. By then there was no time to gather the clothes from Pekan,” he said, after having been informed at 6:30am.
Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah from Najib’s home state of Pahang was officially installed as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong in a ceremony held at Istana Negara, in Kuala Lumpur.
This distance between the two locations is about three hours by car.
Following the woe-is-me post, Najib’s former special officer was quick to lay blame on Malaysia’s 94-year-old Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, saying the PM had threatened to boycott the event if Najib was seated anywhere near him. (Editor: Can’t imagine why.)
Speaking to Malay-language daily Utusan, he said that the current PM was jealous of Najib’s popularity, and wanted to ensure the former PM did not attend.
What incredible psychic powers Mahathir must have to know what’s inside Najib’s closet, down to the last sash.
The PM’s office has denied any meddling in the matter, saying that anything to do with the ceremony was dealt with by the palace’s protocol division.
And so it goes, poor Cindernajib, left without a thread to wear in his entire closet, with no fairy godmother to help.
Too busy printing out all those Bossku hoodies, amirite?!
