August 15, 2012
In Defense of Mahathir Mohamad
by Erna Mahyuni (08-15-12)@www.themalaysianinsider.com
“But don’t you think (Tun Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad) should be condemned for all he’s done?”
So asked a young, idealistic undergrad over supper. My answer was, “No.” The young lady was intrigued enough to let me explain to her just why Dr Mahathir, for all his missteps, did not deserve to be vilified.
This is what I told her.
Dr Mahathir’s greatest flaw is his unwavering belief that the end justifies the means. Yet, as a Malaysian, I find myself unwilling to demonise this highly complex individual who, for better or worse, shaped this nation.
It all starts with the best of intentions and I think our former prime minister really did believe his decisions were for the greater good. But part of the reason he became the über-controlling, extremely paranoid individual we know is due to circumstances. Circumstances on which I blame UMNO as well as de facto Pakatan Rakyat head Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
UMNO may have started out with patriotic, altruistic aims, but by the 80s it had become much like the cesspit we all know and love. It’s every man for himself, with members voluntarily playing a vicious round of musical chairs and the modus operandi being to push your opponent off his chair to win.
Anwar would probably be Prime Minister now if he hadn’t made the biggest career mistake of his life: Attempting to force Dr Mahathir to step down. Perhaps his ego persuaded him to believe that he could pull off what other UMNO members had tried but failed to do. Tun Musa Hitam’s own joint coup attempt ended with his own political career virtually ended.
If Dr Mahathir hadn’t been constantly assailed by other UMNO members jockeying for prime ministership, would he have become a better leader? I wonder that, sometimes.
Smarter politicians would have recognised Dr Mahathir’s propensity to hold a grudge and his vengefulness. But UMNO being the doofus-magnet that it is, Dr Mahathir probably realised quickly that he was surrounded by selfish incompetents all too ready to make clumsy attempts to back stab him.
While most of us do wish the supposedly retired Dr Mahathir would just clam up already, you can understand why he’s so vocal. Our Prime Minister is vulnerable like Dr Mahathir never was. While Dr Mahathir could bend the party to his will, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has to contend with his own set of fools with daggers and demons.
For Dr Mahathir, it’s probably status quo. He’s still gnashing his teeth, feeling as though he’s surrounded by dimwits who won’t stop and listen to him. Because if there was one thing Dr Mahathir truly believed, it was that he was always right.
History proved him wrong, though. And it is a tragedy that what should have
been a great legacy is tainted by civil rights abuses, rampant corruption, systemic racism and institutionalised government incompetence.
Before Barack Obama came up with “Yes, we can”, Dr Mahathir had his “Malaysia Boleh.” It should have become a rallying call, our way of believing what Dr Mahathir tried to impart ― that we had potential to be so much more than we are. Instead, it has become a mocking cry we utter when we comment on our nation’s many failings.
Dr Mahathir is probably the greatest politician our country ever had or will ever produce. But Malaysia needs statesmen, not politicians. Not Anwar, who, for all his showboating, achieved little during his ministerial tenures. Not court jesters like PERKASA or most of Pakatan’s own crazies. But leaders with vision, compassion and a sense of honour. Sadly, those traits do not seem to manifest in Malaysian politicians.
Malaysians also reflect the shortcomings of our politicians. We shortchange, empower corruption (boleh settle, boss?), top Asian rankings of laziest workers… because we have come to believe that it’s fine to only care about our own and do whatever it takes to protect our own interests. So long as my family/race/religion/business comes out on top, to heck with everyone else.
It is high time Malaysians start asking of themselves what they expect of their leaders: putting the nation above their own concerns, prove incorruptible and ensure fairness for all.
We should not condemn Dr Mahathir, because in many ways, he reflects all the worst in ourselves. Like him, we are learning too late that the end should never justify the means.
Sorry I beg to differ, he might be a leader in his own right but his greatest unforgivable legacy is that he is the most corrupt, enriched himself & family through all means available to him. This over-rides all his “greatness” as you claim ! To me, he is the most arrogant, corrupt & ruthless Prime Minister in the Malaysian history.
Erna, you deserve what is coming to you from readers of this blog. The general consensus here is that the 4th Prime Minister destroyed all public institutions including the Judiciary and the civil service so that with 2/3rd majority in Parliament, he could retain almost absolute power. He did that systematically so that the present administration is incompetent and corrupt–a tragedy.
I suggest you read Barry Wain’s Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times to understand what happened during Mahathir’ s 22 year tenure as Prime Minister. Sir Tim Lancaster’s forthcoming book on the politics of the Pergau Dam project which was initiated by Dr.Mahathir with Maggie Thatcher to use British aid money also offers interesting insights into how the political game was played at the international level. I had the privilege of reading Tim’s manuscript, and was asked to offer my comments, which I did.–Din Merican
Erna Mahyuni whoever you are, which gender you belong to. you need to grow up and fast. I’m being gentle here.
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Bean, being gentle is not what I expect from you. This writer deserves to be “educated” and badgered about Mahathirism and Malaysian politics under his watch.–Din Merican
Bendover Singh may not be so gentle.
Din, people forget that Malaysia went through very rough patches during the tenure of Tun M. The Ringgit decline would have spelt disaster to many rich Malaysians had it not been for this courageous Tun M who went against convention to safeguard this country’s financial system. There are many more examples. Just look around.
There were many good deeds that he had done. Some went bad. There were many that he did not pay too much attention. With the 2/3 majority in Parliament he could have brought this nation to even greater height. Nation building is one.
I have the fullest respect for this man even if he had done wrong in many things. I do not see many courageous politicians today who dare do things for the country.
ESTEE
He legalised illegal immigrants in Sabah! Is this not treason? It’s unforgivable!
“We should not condemn Dr Mahathir, because in many ways, he reflects all the worst in ourselves. Like him, we are learning too late that the end should never justify the means.” Erna Mahyuni
We?? Who gave you the right to speak for us?? Speak for yourself or we’ll have Bendover Singh deal with you and let him show you nooks and crannies on your body you never thought you had.
Assallammuallaikum, “Dr Mahathir is probably the greatest politician our country ever had or will ever produce. But Malaysia needs statesmen, not politicians.” How true. Currently, we have Santa Claus who thinks he can win PRU13 by bringing and dishing out gifts from his bag of goodies which were paid by us (the taxpayers)
Mahakutty is a power crazy personality. He held on to power for over 22 years, and reluctantly retired, but he is still the most vocal and critical (destructive) personality in this country. No one Ex-PM has been as crazy for the fame and limelight as he is. He has single handedly destroyed our system, judiciary, civil services, education, racial and religious tension, for the benefit of his own and the cronies. Who ever that defied him will be bashed. Is that what you consider a great leader??? The writer is defintely out of her “naive” mind to tell us what to believe of this kutty fella.
Today’s primary six student , if allowed the space , would have written something more worthy and with better depth then this shallow piece . Toilet paper stuff this piece , just like the subject.
The destruction of the tenets of separation of powers which is so essential for the success of a democratic Malaysia was destroyed by this one man alone! The judiciary was dismantled and manned by his own nominees pandering to his wishes and political opponents were jailed without trial. He defended child rapist the likes of RTC and jailed those who protected the rape victim LGE! Forgive him? Sorry lah, never in a thousand years!
May I also add, because of what he did to Malaysia, all my 4 children do no want to return to this rotten country after graduation!
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I think your children did the right thing. If this had happened to our country when I was in my 20s, I too would never have come home to serve. In the 1960s-1981, our country showed signs of a promising future under Tunku, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn.–Din Merican
Championing the maha kutty legend …oops ! Erna grow up !
mahathir, when he was the underdog, is good. reflect how he was when Tunku sacked him. When he was (is?) on top, he is the worst bully of a leader, and an egomaniac to boot. He thinks Malaysia cannot survive without him. In fact, we would have survived better without his overstaying as PM. The best thing that he can do is to SHUT up and stop thinking that he is God’s gift to Malaysia.
Having all this against the Mahakuty, it is amazing how the UMNOMelyus still worhsip him and regard him with deference. What does it say of these UMNOMelyaus moral fibre.
He did much more harm than good for the country. An elderly person desperately trying to prevent a peaceful, democratic regime change with his current outpouring of outrageous & divisive mutterings and writings.
We tried hard to harmonies everyone and we got this so called PM playing the races & religions cards which create distrust & friction.
Whack him and don’t give face.
Whatever good this man had done is now being permanently destroyed by his nonsensical and divisive comments and writings in his post PM era.
He singularly destroyed the judiciary , isolated the rulers , divide the precious harmony among races that was cultivated during the Tunku and Razak’s time and mercilessly jailed and battered those that opposed him.
Moreover, his “privatisation projects” awarded to his cronies resulted in billions siphoned out from taxpayer’s funds to bail them out when the project turned sour as in MAS.
Billions of the nation’s money were lost in forex dealing ; Maminco scandal when it tried to corner the tin market ; and many more as explained in Barry Wain’s book.
Finally, the political cunniness he showed to win the Sabah state elections by giving “instant IC” for votes to illegal immigrants in Sabah demonstrates his disrespect for the will of law and the souvereignity of the nation.He thought that he is above the law anyway.
Ok , so who is her father and how did he benefit from Mahathir?
Greatest Politician M’sia ever had? LOL. Are you kidding us? Wake up girl, wake up to the fact that all the tax payers money have gone. All your monies that should have brought M’sia to an economic level that should have surpassed S’pore have all but gone. We have more natural resources than S’pore yet look at where we are. And you , this is all you can say?
How dare you belittle our intelligence.
Listen Erna,you’re surely from MARS,Mahathir planned everything from the beginning,I mean everything,he is a Master strategist,his visions to enriched his wife’s family first,children,cronies,ecetera2 started when I was still in school.
I knew about him from my mother n we are talking 1967 here,he is the only leader who can tell Israel to shove it n still survive,what does that tell you,where is most of his money parked at???
A close friend of mine who is still his crony remarked recently that all’s well and safe ( meaning Mahathir’s money ) there in Tel Aviv,right after he came back.There are lots more that I know but can’t reveal yet,perhaps one day,I will,perhaps.If only you know his evilness,n his despised for the royalties,British ecetera2,if only you know.
“Royalty, British and Japanese etc) — Lok1
He was family physician to the Kedah royalty, nurturing their goodwill, offering his ‘sembah’ and kissing their hands ( their asses too, one cheek at a time). He was a struggling teenager during the period when the cry went out “British go, Japanese come”. When he became PM he thought we were still fighting the Brits and the country was under Japanese Occupation. He took back Carcosa from the Brits and launched a “Buy British Last” campaign and sent his dimwit of a son packing to Tokyo, Japan for his education. He launched the “Look East Policy” and made his Cabinet Ministers dressed like Japanese factory managers and gave each a name tag. Under his tenure as Prime Minister, karaoke bars mushroomed in towns and cities in Malaysia. As for royalty, he clipped their wings and set himself up as the First among Royals and made everybody kiss his hand. The rest is history, folks.
I wonder how much survey has the Erna done to write about the “honour “mamakthir planned for himself..so as to impress a person like this her.
Does the she know how frustrated people concerned are to curse him as Mr 10%?
What price he bgt KLIA land and what hefty price he resold to construct KLIA ,
Last but not least,why was he so adamant demanding govt to build the crooked bridge in johor bahru even after he stepped down as PM?
How he helped one of his sons to become Malaysia’s richest man in top 5?
Try dig out more worms from his can and tell us how honourable this old man had been?
This Erna could well be Al Kutty’s Fan Club President. Whatever it is she/he is entitled to her/his views. There are many misplaced people like Erna walking on this side of the world. Good on them. Like I have said before this Kerala cloth merchant has messed up this country for good. Period.
Erna Mahyuni is Mahathir, in disguise?
Judging from the name Erna Mahyuni she’s probably born in the late 80′s or early 90′s, era of fancy names or anglicised names. She probably knew no other PM except Apanama thus her glowing praise of Apanama. She probably didn’t understand rights and freedom having been BTNed while growing up, in school and now as a working adult.
The rest of us have been around the block many times and have lived through a series of PMs and are able to compare the various PMs. So guys cut little Erna some slack. No need to burst your pipes over Apanama.
What makes you guys think this Erna is a woman??
_____________
Could be a highly paid pro-Mahathir cybertrooper.–Din Merican
With a feminine name like that ? Hope not a lelaki lembut.
This article is lame. It assumes we are vilifying, demonising him. No we are not. We are ssaying it like it is. He is highly complex it seems. No he is not. In fact he is quite the predictable ‘leader’. Nothing complex or revolutionary really. He built buildings. Whats so revolutionary about that? In my books revolutionary is when there is no poverty in a nation. When there is no division between races and everyone is Malaysian. Now thats revolutionary. Did he do that?
You see, we know what he hasor hasnt done to this nation. The evidence ? Look at the poor people , the economic situation, that buildings do not do anything for the self esteem of a nation ,the segregation ofthe people by race and religion, more importantly look at what has happened to those who dare to tell him where to go, Anwar Ibrahim.
You dont want to see who he really is and what he has really done thats your business, but if there’s enough of the likes of you bringing down others by spreading this to the innocent ones, then thats when we have to say something .
Din, I fully agreed with your comments. I could not say it any better. This mamak destroyed all public institutions including the judiciary, civil service, EC, Police and ACA, now MACC. He staffed his cabinet and the civil service with people whose ability is to follow his instructions, never mind their competency or capabilities. His policies were just whims and fancies without much deliberations like the Proton project instead of the motorcycle project, crooked bridge, setting up of 4 big local corporations to emulate the Japanese sogoshosa, etc. If Tunku is the Father of Malaysia, Tun Razak is the Father of Development, Tun Hussein Onn, the Father of Unity, then M is the Destroyer of Independence of Public Institutions!
The country turned upside when this kerala chap took the reigns…It ‘s been sliding downhill since then ! The worst part and luck we had a bloody doctor ruining the country…like we have been cursed for generations.
They say Malaysia is always free and safe from natural disasters and well sheltered, but this scum of a doctor created most havoc worst than any tsunami to this tanah of ours. Sometimes we people were blind and allowed him to work in the devil’s workshop.There is nothing great we can see or dig in our history book on him. He rob us of our fair values and destroyed the races and changed the state of Sabah for his liking.
Lets pray that kharma will knock on his door ….then this country will be appeased.
I simply cannot agree with the writer. Why should we run ourselves down and take the blame for the actions of this odious man?
A close friend of mine who is still his crony remarked recently that all’s well and safe ( meaning Mahathir’s money ) there in Tel Aviv,right after he came back.
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This kutyy is a great schemer who is able to fool the Malays into thinking that he is a Malay. Born an Indian but can become Malay after Merdeka ?.
His penchant for deception is great and he is able to pepetuate this great deception by roping in some of the Malay cronies of his that he has corrupted with the rakyat’s money through project award.
This kutty is bent on recreating the Malay race as he has great contempt for the pre Merdeka Malay stock whom he sees as of inferior stock (one can read in some of his writings) . That’s why he has given cititzenship and Malay identity (just like for himself) to the numerous Paki , Bengla , Indonesia etc etc stock to metamorphose them into pseudo Malays .And one day these pseudo Malays will out number those of the pre Merdeka Malay stock.
This can be considered as the greatest treachery to the Malays that never dawn on the descendant of the pre Merdeka Malay stock who have foolishly heap praises on this kutty.
In a democratic country, this man would be arrested and tried for treason, undermining and destroying the Nation through: a) Apartheid & racism. b) Deception of the public with controlled media and rigged elections. c) Weakening almost all institutions of governance including the legislature, judiciary, police, ACC/MACC, the Election Commission, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers. d) Mis-management, manipulation and corruption causing losses in hundreds of billions of RM$. If convicted all stolen assets to be returned and then the Convict executed for treason. It is appalling these people behave like heros, saints and kings without the slightest remorse or sense of shame. His sons are directors of 200 companies and drive some of the most expensive cars in the world, eg the Ferrari Enzo & the RM5.5million Bugatti Veyron…Am writing from a truly transparent and democratic country, NZ.
Mahathir’s sons with their billions should read this: Hannibal Gaddafi’s UKP300million ship was left unfinished when his father was overthrown….It would have had marble columns, statues, luxury fittings and gold-framed mirrors. The ship would have also boasted of marble floors, panoramic glass lifts with virtual waterfalls, and glass walkways over the shark aquarium. Hannibal reportedly had 6 deadly sharks…..3 of the ex- Dictator’s sons have been killed and 1 held awaiting ICC trial. Mubarak and his 2 billionaire sons Alaa & Gamal are in Tora jail, so is the super tycoon Ahmed Ezz and a bunch of other Mubarak-era mega-businessmen.
Soros: “In Australia you are known as the recalcitrant ego maniac; in UK the corrupt bastard… stupid purchase of our movie studio…290 Million Ringgit Lotus racing car plant and the shady Pergau dam loans from the UK. They are useless to us and you still want to buy them. What about buying British reject submarines through your agent…Your purchase of our battleships is at least 50% more than others are paying. Your purchase of 9 hospitals from UK…does not support your local architects or your industry and the British send you obsolete medical equipmt. …your face appears no less than 17 newspapers as a corrupt dictator. In Malaysia you are known as the (IBM) International Big Mouth. In Japan they call him the ‘smallest one’ (brain size)…In S America they call him the parrot (he talks a lot but does not know….). “
Wonder why this old man keeping quiet over all the allegations here? Is he not dening or maybe “silence means content”?
it is sad to see how immature malaysians are. Yes her opinion are fferent but there is no need to attack her personally.maybe its because your in cyberspace ans you dont have to be civil to each other. You are just safe behind that computer and you dont have to bear consequences for unnessary insults. Be critical yes. But be civil. Be better than this malaysians.