So I got to the office early today, picked up the Daily Express lying on the floor and started reading today's headlines.
"If Anwar Becomes PM..."
Let's sum the article up. It's basically our former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed saying that Anwar Ibrahim is, quote, 'a man of many parts' end quote. He says Anwar has a glib tongue and could draw the attention of people from different groups and backgrounds. Not only that, Anwar will supposedly be 'led by the nose' by the 'EVIL' West and Malays will be forced to kowtow.
The rest of the article talks about his defense of other accusations laid out by his critics such as the clause in UMNO's constitution requiring support from 60 divisions to contest a President's post, etc etc.
Let's focus on what he said about Anwar though. Yes perhaps it IS true that Anwar has a glib tongue and that he could attract the attention of people from different groups and backgrounds. Isn't this the true Malaysian leader? Isn't this what we want..somebody who can listen and take into account the rakyat's grievances and act upon it for the rakyat's well-being? And mind you, the rakyat does not mean the Malays. The rakyat does not mean the UMNO cronies or the Mahathirism cronies. The rakyat means - in Mahathir's words - ALL MALAYSIANS OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND BACKGROUNDS.
And kowtow-ing to the Evil West? Come on Mahathir, you know all about the power of kowtow. I mean, look at all the rich businessmen and cronies who have kowtow-ed to you. While it is true the West especially by the USA (George W. Bush specifically) is an arrogant lot with their constant bullying of smaller nations and their somewhat biased support of Israel, but that does not mean we, Malaysia, cannot look to the West to learn and adapt democratic ideals and good governance to our political system. Australia can be an example for good governance. Former PM John Howard stepped down with grace and has rarely spoken up because he knows that a democratic country allows for a change of government and that his time is over. Mahathir doesn't know that because during his time, Malaysia wasn't a democratic country but rather an autocratic one. A country controlled by a semi-dictator where opposition to his power was stifled (examples, Ops Lalang, 1988 Judicial Crisis, Revision of UMNO Constitution to make challenge to Presidency near impossible, getting rid of his popular Deputy the list goes on). My challenge to Mahathir and Mahathirist, why not open up to the West just as Japan did during the Meiji Revolution NOT to kowtow to them but to learn from them? The West does not mean the 'Evil' USA, it could mean the 'Good' USA. The West could mean the British and Australia where good governance prevail. The West could mean Germany where engineering and technological advances can be imported. The West could mean Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe where adapting local culture into architecture at a high standards could be learnt from. It could mean many things.
So if Anwar becomes PM:
1) He could be a PM for ALL MALAYSIANS since he can impress upon and garner votes from Malaysians of different race and religion. Mahathir is blinded by UMNO and the politics of the past. Malaysians especially the younger ones are fed-up with racial politics and want to move on to a two-party system where issues such as rising prices of commodities, shaky governance, corruption, weak education system can be discussed rather than race, race, race. Of course we wouldn't know how well Anwar will perform but if he is the PM I'd put my money on a more liberal and open political system released from the bondage of racial politics.
2) He could adapt Western principles. Ultra conservative critics such as Mahathir could accuse him of kowtowing. But Malaysians need to break away from this fear of the West and instead open up to them and learn their 'good' stuff to adapt into the country. Japan opened up to the West but I don't see the Japanese giving up their culture. Nor do I see them kowtowing to the West. Singapore and Hong Kong too. They did pretty well by working WITH the West. They're still doing well. So if Anwar becomes PM, perhaps Malaysia will finally open up to the West and learn things such as good governance, the importance of eradicating corruption, an efficient police force, a trustworthy and independent judiciary, and good healthcare and education system, the list goes on.
Again I say and stress, we won't know how Anwar performs until he has. On the other hand, we've already seen Mahathir as PM.
When Mahathir was PM:
"If Anwar Becomes PM..."
Let's sum the article up. It's basically our former PM Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed saying that Anwar Ibrahim is, quote, 'a man of many parts' end quote. He says Anwar has a glib tongue and could draw the attention of people from different groups and backgrounds. Not only that, Anwar will supposedly be 'led by the nose' by the 'EVIL' West and Malays will be forced to kowtow.
The rest of the article talks about his defense of other accusations laid out by his critics such as the clause in UMNO's constitution requiring support from 60 divisions to contest a President's post, etc etc.
Let's focus on what he said about Anwar though. Yes perhaps it IS true that Anwar has a glib tongue and that he could attract the attention of people from different groups and backgrounds. Isn't this the true Malaysian leader? Isn't this what we want..somebody who can listen and take into account the rakyat's grievances and act upon it for the rakyat's well-being? And mind you, the rakyat does not mean the Malays. The rakyat does not mean the UMNO cronies or the Mahathirism cronies. The rakyat means - in Mahathir's words - ALL MALAYSIANS OF DIFFERENT GROUPS AND BACKGROUNDS.
And kowtow-ing to the Evil West? Come on Mahathir, you know all about the power of kowtow. I mean, look at all the rich businessmen and cronies who have kowtow-ed to you. While it is true the West especially by the USA (George W. Bush specifically) is an arrogant lot with their constant bullying of smaller nations and their somewhat biased support of Israel, but that does not mean we, Malaysia, cannot look to the West to learn and adapt democratic ideals and good governance to our political system. Australia can be an example for good governance. Former PM John Howard stepped down with grace and has rarely spoken up because he knows that a democratic country allows for a change of government and that his time is over. Mahathir doesn't know that because during his time, Malaysia wasn't a democratic country but rather an autocratic one. A country controlled by a semi-dictator where opposition to his power was stifled (examples, Ops Lalang, 1988 Judicial Crisis, Revision of UMNO Constitution to make challenge to Presidency near impossible, getting rid of his popular Deputy the list goes on). My challenge to Mahathir and Mahathirist, why not open up to the West just as Japan did during the Meiji Revolution NOT to kowtow to them but to learn from them? The West does not mean the 'Evil' USA, it could mean the 'Good' USA. The West could mean the British and Australia where good governance prevail. The West could mean Germany where engineering and technological advances can be imported. The West could mean Italy, Spain, Eastern Europe where adapting local culture into architecture at a high standards could be learnt from. It could mean many things.
So if Anwar becomes PM:
1) He could be a PM for ALL MALAYSIANS since he can impress upon and garner votes from Malaysians of different race and religion. Mahathir is blinded by UMNO and the politics of the past. Malaysians especially the younger ones are fed-up with racial politics and want to move on to a two-party system where issues such as rising prices of commodities, shaky governance, corruption, weak education system can be discussed rather than race, race, race. Of course we wouldn't know how well Anwar will perform but if he is the PM I'd put my money on a more liberal and open political system released from the bondage of racial politics.
2) He could adapt Western principles. Ultra conservative critics such as Mahathir could accuse him of kowtowing. But Malaysians need to break away from this fear of the West and instead open up to them and learn their 'good' stuff to adapt into the country. Japan opened up to the West but I don't see the Japanese giving up their culture. Nor do I see them kowtowing to the West. Singapore and Hong Kong too. They did pretty well by working WITH the West. They're still doing well. So if Anwar becomes PM, perhaps Malaysia will finally open up to the West and learn things such as good governance, the importance of eradicating corruption, an efficient police force, a trustworthy and independent judiciary, and good healthcare and education system, the list goes on.
Again I say and stress, we won't know how Anwar performs until he has. On the other hand, we've already seen Mahathir as PM.
When Mahathir was PM:
1) Freedom was curtailed. Opposition to his power was stifled. The ISA, which our Tunku promised will not be used to shut opposition up, was deliberately used to kill off all opposition to his arrogance and examples include Ops Lalang. He also removed Tun Salleh Abbas, the Chief Judge and started the rot of the Malaysian judiciary which at one point of time was well-known for its independence. In true derhaka fashion, he reduced the power of the Royals because the Royals were getting on his nerves.
2) Money politics prevailed. It was during Mahathir's time, the Opposition in Sabah crumbled because money was withheld on the argument that 'the Opposition will misuse the Federal funds' and the money was instead used to buy politicians over to BN. Excuse me, a big chunk of Federal Funds come from Sabah through the black gold that you steal from us. So now BN is shitting in their pants just thinking about the pending retribution. Money was also used to win UMNO grassroots support. His policy is simple. You make me like you, I give you money. You make me hate you, I hold money. You vote for me, I give you money. You vote for Opposition, I don't give you money.
3) Patronage system enhanced. Need I say more? "You got connections, you go up. I don't care you good enough or not. You lousy also I will take care of you because I like you." That's how it is in Mahathir's Malaysia.
4) Racial politics was improvised to control his own people in UMNO and to create fear so that voters will vote for BN.
5) Corruption was so high that anybody could get rich as long as you knew somebody up there. Police were at their worse state. Not to mention the judiciary as proven by the Lingam case. The Lingam case is a joke..everybody knows the video clip is real and the Royal Commission should cover the rot of the Malaysian judiciary all the way back to 1988 when Mahathir removed Tun Salleh.
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10) The list is too long....it goes on and on.
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