August 12, 2012
Mahathir could be guilty of destructive myopia on Sabah
by Terence Netto@http://www.malaysiakini.com
COMMENT: Observers of historical ironies would find plenty to relish in the one that seems to be coming up on the back of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s decision to empower a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on the issue of illegal migrants given citizenship in Sabah.
This irony has to do with hypothetical developments, which if they eventuate, may well prove Tunku Abdul Rahman, founding Prime Minister of Malaysia and, more importantly, resuscitator of UMNO in 1951 after the shock of party founder Onn Jaafar’s resignation, as a seer on the issue of UMNO’s entry into Sabah.
By the same token, the same developments could prove Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Tunku’s nemesis and incubator of a mutant UMNO (‘UMNO Baru’ was its assumed name) as guilty of destructive myopia.
The Tunku had before he died in December 1990 warned UMNO not to spread its wings to Sabah. He said that from what he had seen and heard from his friend from USNO, Mustapha Harun, the latter always had problems controlling political factions in Sabah.
Therefore, the Tunku (right) advised UMNO, not to tread into waters that were inherently difficult to fathom.
Of course, the Tunku did not help his argument by citing the troubles of Mustapha governing Sabah as a basis for his advice.
Mustapha behaved like an oriental potentate, with whims and fancies to match. Mahathir lambasted his ways during one election campaign in Sabah when USNO was in competition with Haris Salleh’s BERJAYA for the right to rule the state.
Stumping for Haris, Mahathir, who was then Deputy Prime Minister, observed that whenever he visited Sabah as Education Minister (August 1974-April 1976), he found the top leaders of the state to be absent – away in exotic locales like Lebanon.
Mahathir did not mention Mustapha by name but it was obvious he was referring to the USNO leader’s weakness for the sybarite’s lifestyle which was as likely to take him to the fleshpots of Beirut as to Spartan destinations like Tripoli where he once repaired to ask for help from Muammar Gaddafi over a perceived threat to Sabah’s security by the communists who had just overrun Indochina.
Though Tunku Abdul Rahman was something of a bon vivant, he was no sybarite, but this did not prevent him from being indulgent towards Mustapha who, like the Tunku, was of aristocratic descent. (A sense of class solidarity is hard to dispel among the high born.)
Despite the earnestness of the Tunku’s advice against UMNO’s entry into Sabah, there was little hope it would be heeded.
Flashing a cape before a bull
Mahathir has precious little time for the counsel of people whom he thinks weak and ineffective.
When Joseph Pairin Kitingan (left), the PBS Chief Minister of Sabah, took his party out of the federal BN coalition and joined Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s Gagasan Rakyat (People’s Might) coalition days before the October 1990 general election, his move was like the flash of a matador’s muleta (cape) before a bull.
Then-BN chief and Prime Minister Mahathir wasted no time after the election – which he won sensationally, thanks in no small part to cynical employment of the bogey of Christian plotting against Muslims (a prevision of Hasan Ali’s tactics more than two decades after) – setting in train the moves, including UMNO’s entry into Sabah, seat gerrymandering, and electoral roll padding – that pegged Pairin’s PBS to a narrow win in the Sabah state election of 1994, a win that vanished in the face of crossovers to Sabah BN.
Now, 18 years on, crossovers from Sabah BN to the independent bench by essentially the same invertebrates that ditched PBS for Sabah BN in 1994 have forced PM Najib into a forestalling manoeuvre in which the formation of a royal commission of inquiry to dig into how tens of thousands of illegal migrants in the state had been given citizenship and voting rights is in train.
The RCI would have to summon Mahathir to query him as to what his role in the entire episode had been. The man is going to discover that the whole imbroglio stemmed from a decision of his taken in contravention of the Tunku’s advice.
It’s hard to see how he could emerge from the inquiry, which would lose all credibility if it does not summon him to testify, with his bona fides as a law-abiding former Prime Minister intact.
With this on, and if given the latitude it deserves, a lot of people will suffer from the Nuremberg syndrome, including Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad.
Terrence, with due respect, I have said this before and I will say it again. please do not show off your english langauge verbosity. You are not communicating to ordinary people like me. I do not have the time to refer to the dictionary on every other word to understand what your trying to stay. After three sentences of your article I do not put msyself under any further strain. It is pity that you have some intelligent analyses, but you do not have the skills to communicate them to ordinary folks like me.
Have a good day.
Dr Maha Kutty and the other culprits, are now in the same ” class ” as our national bowler Noor Afizal Azizan. The bowler escaped jail for statutory rape because the Appeal’s Court felt he had a bright future in the bowling world .
In the case of Maha Kutty and the other culprits , it looks like they won’t be called for evidence and inquiry by the RCI because they have a bright future as traitors to the Nation.
Disgusting!
“It’s hard to see how he could emerge from the inquiry, which would lose all credibility if it does not summon him to testify,…”
Well, the old goat might testify but he will lie through his teeth. When he can deny his Indian roots and transform into a Malay, what is there to stop him from doing a Houdini or David Copperfield or a Rip van Winkle on the stand.
According to Sakmongkol AK47, this man can walk on water!!
Terrence, i agree with anakrakyat’s comments. Please go through Din Merican’s articles and i am sure you will pick up a lot how well he convey his thoughts to ordinary folks here. You are not writing a thesis are you?
Anak rakyat,
If you cannot understand what Terence Netto wrote, go and join those Form Five kids for English tuition classes.
oh yes! the mad kutty can walk on water or better said ‘he walks with water under him’ presumably for his age he is incontinent.
how he’ll emerge from the RCI ? as a new man; have you forgotten his memory lapses? selective amnesia is handy for corrupt politicians.
Terrence, with due respect, I have said this before and I will say it again. please do not show off your english langauge verbosity. – anakrakyat
Netto has already come down a long way to the level of the average Rakyat(M’sia); how low must he go?
dictionary? google is just a click away.
next you going to accuse him of Logorrhea!?
Grandiloquence is nicer
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verbosity
Frankly, we should leave Mahathir alone. I have disagreed with him on many issues. But I have not allowed my emotions to get the better of me. I respect him for what he has done for our country. His politics is something else. For him, politics is embodied in Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince. To him and other leaders, politics is the pursuit of power based on crass self interest.–Din Merican
“Frankly, we should leave Mahathir alone.” Din.
In that case you shouldn’t have posted this article on your blog. By so doing, you are eliciting outrage against the old goat. Or you expect us to hero worship him?
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Regarding, Terrace’s supreme command of the English Language. If I may repeat what I said yesterday.This is a Malaysiakini article, meaning meant for its subscribers and NOT for Din’s blog visitors. (I presume Din had got permission from Malaysiakini to post this article here).
You don’t even pay a dime to read this article, so why gripe and groan. If you cannot understand his English, then don’t read or go and read Humpty Dumpty.
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SamO1, I got permission to put articles on this blog. The only requirement is that I acknowledge my source. I agree with Terence when he said that he will not change his style to suit anyone of us. Come to his standard as he will not lower his. –Din Merican
‘I agree with Terence when he said that he will not change his style to suit anyone of us. Come to his standard as he will not lower his. –Din Merican ‘
if Netto had been our Education Minister we’d be having a world class education now and students from abroad would be thronging our corridors of knowledge to find a place to study.
what did our educationists really do, they chased away the smarter students (or better said, they made everything unpalatable and difficult that they left on their own will, best described by the german word ‘raus-ekeln’ slow and sure method to get rid of unwanted people) and lowered the standard to accomodate the average and below average students. Voila, Malaysia Boleh!
I can understand your sentiment regarding Mahathir, Dato’.
but the question is why can’t he leave us alone now. he did what he did, he had his way and now it is someone else’s turn. why is he still poking around in malaysian politics??
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Reeper, that is why I remain very critical of Tun Dr.Mahathir. He cannot just fade because he must counter-attack his opponents who seek to destroy his legacy. I suppose he has plenty to answer for given his 22 years in power.–Din Merican
What i can say is , Netto is inclined to write in such fashion primarily to mask the many vague details and half truths found in his articles… For ie. in this piece he wants readers to believe Mustapha (Tun) was of aristocratic descent .. While it is public knowledge Tunku was of priviledged royalty convenient enough to earn himself the whitemans education which undoubtedly propelled his command of the english language setting him miles apart from what was then mostly rural malay peasantry… , Mustapha was none of this , neither high born nor adequately educated… When the Japs were in command he(mustapha) ran erands for the Kampitai.. His most notable functioned was as native chief of the Bajau indegenous tribe pre-independence period.. Hell , he was so naive , his assumption was the post of Negara(TYT) was more powerful than the CMship akin to the British Gorvenor.. The one reason Tunku favoured Mustapha so much was due to his deep resentment towards Fuad Stevens.. Stevens who was more of an intellect , possesed better understanding the wheeling and dealing of mainstream politics would from time to time show Tunku the middle finger particularly when the autonomy of SABAH was brought up (in)for debate … Tunku’s most famous remarked that he repeatedly made to Mustapha was ‘ never trust that Stevens Serani’ Racist? You tell me…. Now , lets talk about Mahathir…
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Please go ahead on Mahathir. Any new revelations? –Din Merican
The writer is apparently not interested in widening his readership. Not interested in adapting his style which is more suited to literary journals, in my opinion, and a more specialised and narrower audience. It is his First Amendment right. No one is questioning his right. The bloghost has every right to post whatever articles he fancies on his blog in the exercise of the same First Amendment right. There is no equivalent of the First Amendment in our federal constitution, of course, but you can find the watered down version of ii under provisions pertaining to “Fundamental Liberties”.
Some of us are put off by his style of writing which they think is ill suited to the area over which the writer claims to have some expertise. To many of these folks I believe it has little to do with command of the English language for their fluency in the language is borne out by their contributions on this blog.
But notwithdtanding the above I can see the writer in this article is making adjustments. So give the guy a chance, folks.
A much more serious concern to the bloghost is his right to publish articles on his blog which could make him a target for contempt charges.
When the bloghost published an article here involving the TenPin Bowling Ace who balled a minor but was freed by justices sitting on a 3-board member panel of the country’s Court of Appeal and perhaps unwittingly allowed comments that courts from other jurisdictions following the common law doctrine of contempt of court would have no hesitation to classify them as personal and scurrilous attacks on judges and the country’s justice system, no one here ventured to offer his or her opinion except for legal eagle Kathy from Perth, Australia.
What i can say is , Netto is inclined to write in such fashion primarily to mask the many vague details and half truths found in his articles… For ie. in this piece he wants readers to believe Mustapha (Tun) was of aristocratic descent .. While it is public knowledge Tunku was of priviledged royalty convenient enough to earn himself the whitemans education which undoubtedly propelled his command of the english language setting him miles apart from what was then mostly rural malay peasantry… , Mustapha was none of this , neither high born nor adequately educated… When the Japs were in command he(mustapha) ran erands for the Kampitai.. His most notable functioned was as native chief of the Bajau indegenous tribe pre-independence period.. Hell , he was so naive , his assumption was the post of Negara(TYT) was more powerful than the CMship akin to the British Gorvenor.. The one reason Tunku favoured Mustapha so much was due to his deep resentment towards Fuad Stevens.. Stevens who was more of an intellect , possesed better understanding the wheeling and dealing of mainstream politics would from time to time show Tunku the middle finger particularly when the autonomy of SABAH was brought up (in)for debate … Tunku’s most famous remarked that he repeatedly made to Mustapha was ‘ never trust that Stevens Serani’ Racist? You tell me…. Now , lets talk about Mahathir…
He cannot just fade because he must counter-attack his opponents who seek to destroy his legacy. I suppose he has plenty to answer for given his 22 years in power.– Din Merican
As far as legacy left by the old goat, let’s not forget he is still around. He’s trying to improve or mend his tattered legacy. The jury is not only not out but has yet to be empanelled. We will have to wait for another fifty years for the final word on his legacy. For many of us here we would have taken our last ride on the back of the kerbau’s back into the sunset. Many waiting with bated breath to meet with ther 72 virgins.
Sorry, Frank. If you’re interested in a rendezvous with one of those dark eyed maidens you will need to go to the back of the line behind tean.
” I respect him ( Mahathir mohamad ) for what he has done for our country “. – Din Merican
Din Merican,
Aside from imprisoning Anwar on trumped up charges , enriching himself and his family ( examples – the reported billions invested in Argentina and the Philippines , the takeover of Esso , etc., ), giving out citizenships to foreigners for votes and in that way compromising the rights of the natives in Sabah and spiking up the population of Sabah , the Independent Power Producers and how the cost of electricity keeps going up becaUSE of some fat cats in UMNO and some cronies , the toll rates and how it keeps going up again because of some fat cats in Umno and his cronies and so many other issues which together reflect gross abuse of power – CAN YOU DIN MERICAN TELL US WHAT IS IT THAT THIS MAN HAS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY, ASIDE FROM SETTING IT ON THE PATH OF SELF DESTRUCTION?
CAN YOU DIN MERICAN TELL US WHAT IS IT THAT THIS MAN HAS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY, ASIDE FROM SETTING IT ON THE PATH OF SELF DESTRUCTION? — sputum
With that Dato is now on the hot seat.
Tick, tock, tick tock ….
TELL US WHAT IS IT THAT THIS MAN HAS DONE FOR THE COUNTRY, ASIDE FROM SETTING IT ON THE PATH OF SELF DESTRUCTION?- sputum
sputum, More likely you were born yesterday or your brain only matured yesterday.
Mahathir did SOME good for Malaysia… otherwise, for better or for worse. It was 22 years, it could have been worse. That is hindsight brilliance.
In his first few years as PM he did a few good things… he straighten out the civil service, introduced the one-stop approach for front-end public service ie those depts dealing directly with the public. Made those irresponsible public servants to wear their names so they cannot get away with their bad attitudes, introduced the time-clock for civil servants.
We should not complain on his priority for infrastructure projects ie the highwayroad networks, as a road system is one important ingredient in the development of a country. He did push Malaysia onto international stage as an NIC ie newly industrialised country.
Now having said that, he did many long lasting wrongs, in particular his DOMESTIC POLITICS is disgusting, sinful, irreparable, unforgiving and simply EVIL.
He improved the physical development of the country and at the same time destroyed the social fabric of the country. He left an economy that is uncompetitive on the international stage. He left behind a largely destroyed racial harmony.
On balance, it would appear, history will not be kind to him, especially when after he retired, he still dabbled with his divisive racial politics he was so used to during his 22 years at height of his power.
So, yes, he did some good, but much of the bad overwhelms the good.
That is said, Mahathir has all the wherewithals to be a great leader, a great statesman. But his ego destroyed all that. He is now a very DESPISED MAN by the people he thought he is helping.
He should now SHUT UP COMPLETELY and enjoy the sunset of this life.
A tragic hero.
Yup. Mahathir devoted his entire life to public service, earning the stipend of a Prime Minister of a third world country when he could have struck it rich running Klinik MAHA in Pekan Melayu (or was it Pekan China) in Aloq Setaq. As Chairman of Malaysia Inc. he chose winners and losers. He created a Malay middle class when there was none. In the process and by accident he also created a Malay capitalist class who together controls and owns 60% of the country’s GDP and like Obama he then spread the wealth a little.
He was the only President of UMNO and the country’s Prime Minister to cry like a baby, seeing that all his efforts had come to nought and unappreciated by the very people he struggled so hard to help at the cost of his own libido. He had no sex life. For twenty three years he couldn’t get it up.
What more sacrifices do you expect the man to make?? He made the supreme sacrifice. He couldn’t get it up. For God’s sake !!
Mr Bean, I will reply to you on August 15…. this is an Internet Blackout. Can you please at least support we folks here from your next of the woods, at least for one day.
Regarding, Terrence’s supreme command of the English Language. If I may repeat what I said yesterday.This is a Malaysiakini article, meaning meant for its subscribers and NOT for Din’s blog visitors. (I presume Din had got permission from Malaysiakini to post this article here). — Sam01
So are you saying visitors to Dato’s blog are semi-literates, semi-educated, imbeciles whose control of the English language is so poor that they cannot tell a speaker who loves to hear his own voice that he (the speaker) forgets why he speaks in the first place from one who wants to get across his message to an educated thinking audience??
now we have a leaders who willing to solve the problems created by Tun M.. Tun M should glad about it..