Who Will Win?
Let’s talk about politics. Many years ago when Dr. Mahathir had just became the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, he had to face loads of criticism from his predecessor Tunku Abdul Rahman (the first PM). Tunku gave statements to media about how he is so disgusted (OK, disgusted is a very strong word. But you get what I mean) by some of Dr. Mahathir’s actions in the government. He also wrote open letters saying that he doesn’t agree with Dr. Mahathir in many ways. Tunku even went as far as to leave the party and join the oppositions (Semangat 46) at that time.
Fast forward to twenty-two years later, we now see that the history is repeating itself but the roles have changed. Just like a song by Whitney Houston titled ‘Same Script, Different Cast’. This time, Dr. Mahathir is criticising his successor Pak Lah with statements to the media and open letters. Although Dr. Mahathir won his battle with Tunku twenty-two years ago, it is interesting to see who will win this time.
It is also interesting to see that when Dr. Mahathir was the PM, his cabinet ministers stood behind him and defended him from Tunku’s criticism. And now when he is no longer the PM, the same cabinet members turn their back on him and defend their new boss, Pak Lah.
That ladies and gentlemen is politics. When you are at the top, people will be loyal to you at all costs. When you are no longer in power, you will be just like a piece of dirt by the roadside. Ciao.
P.S. Since exam season is about to start in a week’s time, I would like to wish all my friends good luck! If things get a bit tough, just remember that a great summer holiday is waiting in June.
Comments
tun mahathir had contributed a lot to the nation, and even when he first came into power, he already embarked on tangible economic programs for the whole country.
i do not think the same case is applied to the current situation. Tun Mahathir was criticised for his extreme reforms, which were not conceivable at that moment, but soon proved to be successful, most of it at least.
but in Pak Lah's case... i shall not continue elaborating this as this might incriminate myself soon afterwards.
=)
anyway adam
talking about economic reforms,
did u know that the government has already started their attempts to stimulate economic growth in Terengganu. And what did they do? building a crystal mosque which cost almost rm250million. wow,how significant is that? I hope that would really help eradicating poverty in terengganu. i am soooooooo impressed.
*read this with ur sarcastic voice*
Adam, keep on blogging on politics, i certainly have the interest to talk about it, but i am still lacking of the guts to write on it. sigh.
Whatever it is, I pray that Pak Lah's reforms will soon bear its fruits of success.
Didn't you realize that Pak Lah is going to be Malaysia's first one-term PM? Anyway, I don't think any of his economic or non-economic reform will be successful.
He launched an Anti-Corruption Campaign which proved to be nothing but a political propaganda.
He did nothing to address the issue of high unemployment and high inflation effectively.
About the crystal mosque in Terengganu, that is just another bad spending habit inherited from Tun Dr. Mahathir's era. I'll talk about the difference between Tun's and Pak Lah's era in terms of economics later.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad
Mahathir Mohamad: "I am unhappy only when you kowtow"
Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad has accused his successor of surrendering sovereignty to Singapore over his handling of a bridge project.
Dr Mahathir said Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had shown Malaysia was a "country with no guts".
Malaysia began building its half of the bridge in January but abandoned it this month after failing to find agreement with Singapore.
Dr Mahathir remains a powerful force and feared enemy in Malaysian politics.
He chose Mr Abdullah as his successor but has been a frequent critic of the two-and-a-half year administration.
Bilateral tension
Dr Mahathir told reporters on returning from London: "I have promised not to interfere in politics and I have not said anything about many things which were done wrong.
"But this is the limit. To surrender your sovereignty to Singapore as if you are scared of them."
Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi
Mr Abdullah scrapped the bridge project this month
Dr Mahathir had earlier criticised the scrapping of a major rail project, a proposed trade deal with the US and the handling of the troubled Proton car company.
The bridge - a project Dr Mahathir visualised in the 1990s - seems to have been the final straw.
"I am unhappy only when you kowtow," he said. "This is our country, yet we have to seek permission from another country to build a bridge on our side. Where is the sovereignty?
"I think this is a... country with no guts."
Malaysia began building the controversial bridge without Singapore's agreement and it has been a major source of bilateral tension.
Malaysia wanted to replace an ageing 1km (0.66 mile) causeway between the two countries with a modern bridge, allowing ships to pass underneath.
It said this would ease congestion on the causeway.
But Singapore said it was concerned about the cost of the project and the impact on the environment.
It suggested a decision on the bridge issue should be part of a package deal on unresolved bilateral issues.
Mr Abdullah is currently in the Caribbean and has made no response to Dr Mahathir's comments.
THIS WAS FROM BBC NEWS
HEHE
it seems like pak lah is becoming even more unpopular nowadays, especially to his predecessor.
pity him.only if he could embark on more tangible reforms other than his batik and songket thingy..
and yes adam
i do agree with u
he is not going to stay in his comfy seat for long. i think it is in the best interest of UMNO and the ruling coalitions for him to step down as soon as possible, otherwise people might get even more irritated with the current situation, and then God knows what would happen during the next general election.
heh
One have to be cunning in order to survive. And learn how to act too. Roles in national's ever continuing dramas.
But then, it's only fair when you refer to the basic theory of politics:
To achieve power and mantain power.
When you're no longer the top position you're powerless. And people no longer fear you.
Are you planning to be a politician someday?
Having a dad that play almost a major role in Terengganu's economic reform, I am intrigued and fascinated by the amount of wasting that they did, and currently doing in Terengganu.
They had been wasting the money ever since the times of former Menteri Besar Mokhtar Ahmad. Ever since Mahathir was still in power. Ever since .. God knows when.
And when I posted an article from Raja Petra about The monsoon cup in my blog and how they misuse the money, I received an sms from mum saying that dad is not particularly happy about my posting. Which means it's true in some way. Or else they won't be so unhappy.
About the crystal mosque - it is said to boost the local tourism sector (i don't know how far this is true, because we have the biggest museum in SouthEast Asia it seems) and still people won't come to see it. I see less and less mat saleh coming, as compared to the time when Mokhtar Ahmad was still the MB.
And the RM1 billion yearly petroleum money will continue to feed the powerful and the politicians in Terengganu.
Not to mention lazy students like me - under Yayasan Terengganu. And a few more.
;)
What's the conclusion? Are you going to be a better politician when you hold power?
Really hope that the oppositions would somehow revive themselves and gain the strength for the next general election.
I would be the happiest person on earth if the government was to be toppled off the throne, though i think it is might rather be impossible for that to happen.
I agree that Malaysia needs stronger oppositions, but to change the government altogether is a different story of which I am not so keen about. (And I don't know who you are)
Do I want to be a politician? Haha. The odds of me becoming a politician are the same as me becoming the next Pope. Why? Like you said Irfan, politic is dirty of which I am sure that you are very familiar with :)
About macroeconomic policy, I'm just wondering when the government is going to realize that Keynesian economics doesn't work anymore. Sigh.