Lest We Forget: Mahathir's Misdeeds

It may be easy for Mahathir to forget the numerous misdeeds committed during his 22 years of iron-fisted rule.

However, Malaysians must never forget. They must never forget that many of the problems facing the country today originated from his administration of the country.

For Mahathir to come out to blame Badawi for "destroying" BN, the day after the momentous 2008 elections is totally uncalled for. His outburst is certainly not for the interest of the country nor even for the interest of UMNO or BN. Malaysian should never be fooled by what he or his sycophants say.

The following is a sample of what Malaysians think of Mahathir.

Dedicated to Dr M - The People’s Parliament January 31, 2008 (Although this was posted before the elections it is a fitting "dedication") Too late, Dr M, too late. Too late to cover up your dark deeds by blaming the Badawi administration. How I had wished, when you were in your hospital bed in IJN recuperating, that you would do the decent thing - repent and admit all the wrongs you had done towards this nation and its people, all too numerous to enumerate here. True repentance would have led you to speak the truth at the VK Lingam session, would have caused you to open up and apologise and attempt to make things right, would have been medicine for this suffering nation. But you did not. True repentance means you are willing to do all that it takes to undo the harm you caused. But you are not. Your selective amnesia is so you. Some people say your performance before the Royal Commission was vintage Dr M. I say it was wastage. You wasted a great moment where you could have helped expose the truth. You chose self-preservation instead. Why complain and condemn BN now, Dr M? You were their best teacher and they were ready pupils to emulate your ways. So, Dr M, leave the affairs of this nation to others. Sit in your armchair, think of your deeds and sing this song dedicated to you to the tune of ‘I Started A Joke’. I started the rot That sent this nation crumbling But I wouldn’t see That the rot was in me. I took all the power And had the nation crying But I didn’t care That my rule was unfair. I started it all Caused all this mess And people had less But I, I’m on my throne I don’t care two hoots I can go it alone. I’ve started a scheme That’ll make you want me back A pity you can’t see That Malaysia needs me.

Should Pak Lah quit? Are you insane? Hell NO! - blog.thestar.com.my Posted by: aput83 Tuesday, March 11, 2008 I like Pak Lah as a person. He's a genial old man with a wicked sense of humor. When I saw him announce the simple majority win, I almost felt sad. Almost. Then suddenly I get news that the grumpy old retired ex-PM has already started criticizing him, going so far as demanding him to step down. And, oddly enough, there are those who actually agree with Tun M. Are you kidding me? Do people not know why the Opposition could never have gotten their win if Mahathir was still Prime Minister? Do you think the EC would have been under as much pressure to make sure the elections were fair? Do people actually think that if Tun M was still Prime Minister, we would not see another Ops Lallang, with all the Opposition leaders being rallied and locked up? Do you think BERSIH and HINDRAF would actually get any attention at all? I have respect for Tun M, but this is one time he should just shut up. He ruled with an iron fist, misleading the non-Malays into thinking that he was on their side, when he never did anything of the sort. I think we all should be thankful to Pak Lah for actually allowing the Opposition to prove themselves in 5 years to the people in 5 states. True, he is not the best example of good leadership in terms of winning elections, but he has proven himself to be a gracious, humble, accepting and transparent leader, which I have never yet managed to see in my lifetime. Which is more than I can say for that grumpy, old, begrudging predecessor of his.

'Operasi Lallang 2' on Sunday if Dr M was still PM - Malaysiakini Letter Abdullah Junid Mar 11, 08 5:52pm I refer to the Malaysiakini report Dr M calls for Pak Lah to resign. Well, well, well, now! Look which pot we have calling the kettle black. Our ‘beloved’ retired - though I'm sure he wish he wasn't - ex-prime minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad is accusing Pak Lah of destroying the Barisan Nasional and asking him to step down. I laughed so loud, I almost fell out of my chair. Dear Tun, Pak Lah did not destroy the BN. He just inherited the destruction process you had started during your 22-year dictatorship. The corruption, the arrogance, the obscene megaprojects towering over slums populated by hard-done-by Malaysians, the brutal treatment of those who had an opinion contrary to yours - these are all things that were your legacy. The thoroughly discredited judiciary, the instant-billionaire children of ‘Umno royalty’ - including your own - these are all your legacies. The cronies who looted the country's treasury, the constant purges of Umno opponents, the shameful beating up of your most feared opponent - these are all part of what history will remember you for. In fact, we all know what would have happened to leading opposition figures this past Sunday if you had still been prime minister. It would have been Operasi Lalang II. Let's go back a bit further. It was your agitation during the late 1960s that played a big role in putting Malaysia on the racist path that has led to today's overwhelming problems. The sheer arrogance of the man. Not only did he decide personally who would succeed him, but he even decided who would succeed his successor. Now that the prospects of his blue-eyed boy Najib look shaky, he's crying foul. Well, cry me a river! Mahathir's sycophants drool over his supposed charisma. But the fact is, he's been nothing more than a lifelong opportunist who could always sense which way the wind was turning, and then used his oratorical and political machinations to take advantage of them. Well, it looks like age hasn't diminished his ability to smell an opportunity. He knows Pak Lah is at his weakest now, and he has pounced right out of the gate to try and get his boy Najib installed in Putrajaya. Trouble is, he still needs to learn that loyalty in Umno is as fleeting as the post you hold. If he thinks Najib will be his hamba, he's sadly out of touch. But I'm sure many Malaysians wish Mahathir nothing less than a long, long life - long enough for him to be around and watching when Anwar Ibrahim takes the oath of office as Prime Minister.

Whatever it is, don't listen to Mahathir - Malaysiakini Letter Al Tugauw Mar 11, 08 5:40pm I refer to the Malaysiakini report Dr M calls for Pak Lah to resign Before anyone gives any credence at all to anything that Dr Mahathir Mohamad may say, I would just like to say a few words of caution. I am quite sure that Mahathir knows that it all started when he went against Tunku Abdul Rahman (who was until then by his (Tunku’s) own admission ‘the happiest Prime Minister in the world’). That was what they wanted after all, power and money. It was not just him alone, but a whole group within Umno at the time who went by the name of the ‘Contras’ and who supposedly advocated an anti-Chinese stand (but nevertheless all had some Chinese tow kay or another behind them). Even today with their Hidup Melayu! while at the same time siphoning off as much money as they can through sheer abuse of their positions, both within and outside of government. This marked the real start of money politics in Umno and Umno's foray into business and the corporate sector - so that not very long after the implementation of the NEP, the first victim of Umno’s greed was the very bank set up to ‘help’ bumiputeras, Bank Bumiputra. Many other scandals involving enormous waste of government funds and mismanagement followed, all of which could be covered up under the guise of the NEP and through control of all mass media. Mahathir himself and his Umno (also MCA and MIC) cronies who got rich from all the money which they siphoned out of the system through sheer abuse of the NEP - and which was partly used to place him in power to take over as PM and to keep him there for 22 years, as well as to keep the BN in power for so long under Umno - are largely to blame for all these abuses. Abdullah and Najib, who followed that lead and as inheritors of that systemic abuse are also responsible as serial abusers themselves. The evidence is clear - if only ACA was given a free hand to investigate. It really does not matter whether Abdullah stays on or is replaced by Najib, as Mahathir wants. We all know that Mahathir is a man with his own agenda - national interest certainly being not a part of it. If they have not learnt their lesson and continue to abuse their positions, that will certainly be the death knell of Umno and the BN with it. Then again, perhaps that will be better for this country. Mahathir talks as if things would have beeen different under him or perhaps even under Najib (and the BN would not have lost so badly) and that Abdullah's arrogance and misplaced faith in his son-in-law was to blame. Perhaps this may be true, but that is the system which they inherited from Mahathir (and of course continued to abuse). I doubt if Abdullah's arrogance could out-do Mahathir's anytime. All I can say now is that if Umno and the BN and their leadership and members do not undertake the necessary self-reform at the federal level, they can expect to be overthrown in the next general elections. However, if Sabah and Sarawak desert the BN now, which they should, the people will not have to wait for the next general elections for at least some hope of reform to begin so that all Malaysians can get on with life under more just, equitable and fairer conditions instead of letting all these elites continue to bleed the country dry while the rest of us and the country's resources pay for it. Whatever it is, don't listen to Mahathir.

Stop attacking Abdullah, Dr M told - Malaysiakini Mar 11, 08 6:43pm The National Union of Bank Employees (Nube) has told off former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad for rebuking his successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. In a statement today, general secretary J Solomon said Mahathir should not be vindictive or hit out at Abdullah. “Stop being a traitor to our government and the people. The current situation in the country did not suddenly arise over the last 4-5 years,” he said. “It is years and years of pent-up frustration across the nation that has grown as a result of the ‘Mahazalim’ reign.” On Sunday, Mahathir had lashed out at Abdullah, after Barisan Nasional (BN) recorded its worst ever election results. Mahathir had led Umno and BN for 22 years before stepping down in October 2003. "My view is he has destroyed Umno, destroyed the BN and he has been responsible for this," Mahathir told reporters. "I think he should accept responsibility for this. He should accept 100 percent responsibility. I am sorry but I apparently made the wrong choice.” BN lost five states - Kelantan, Perak, Penang, Kedah and Selangor - to the opposition. It also lost its two-thirds grip on Parliament, winning only 140 of the 222 seats. Nube described the 12th general election as a true reflection of people’s power. “The result of the elections is proof of a clean and transparent election. There was no malice; otherwise the results would have been different,” the statement read. The union also advised those elected for the first time on the BN ticket to focus on fulfilling their promises to the people instead of making premature demands of Abdullah. Nube expressed its support for Abdullah’s ability to make the right decisions. “Let sour grapes whine in frustration while (Abdullah) works with the elected representatives in various states to build this nation for Malaysians. “We believe (Abdullah) is the best leader to unite and build Malaysia with the various state governments.” The union also said it hopes that those who won in the elections will ‘walk the talk’.