« Tribute to Abdul Rahman Andak

Tun Dr. Mahathir strikes again
“The fate of the people is determined by the people themselves” and “The people gets the Government they deserve”.

These are the two phrases which can sum up former UMNO President and Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s spicy 90 minute speech in Kulai, this evening. The forum, titled “Kepimpinan Melayu di Era Globalisasi” was organized by Kulai Besar branch of the Kulai UMNO Division, at a local sports club multi purpose hall. Over 800 people attended. Even though the event was organized by an UMNO branch, many local non Malays attended with zest. It became a Malaysian affair.

Like the one before, this time Tun Dr. Mahathir is shifting the responsibilty to correct the many skewed situation currently in our beloved country on thr people.

dscn1015.JPG


Tun Dr. Mahathir started by saying the Malay rulers almost gave everything up to the post World War II British Military Administration suggestion to colonialised Malaya instead its earlier ‘protected territory’ status. However Dato’ Onn Jaafar consolidated all the Malay organizations to form UMNO and with this, a very strong uniformed Malay force exist.

Dato’ Onn Jaafar, Dato’ Panglima Bukit Gantang, Zaaba and Nik Ahmad Kamil had the overwhelming support of the Malays and made them so popular and influential. As the leaders of a popular and strong peoples’ movement, the British administration were unable to do anything to them. With this strong backing of the people, these leaders dared to take risk against the British, a superpower which recently managed to win the World War. Indeed, they were succesful.


He said it is important for the people to be sensitive of their surroundings. It was reminded that the Malays should not easily agree with the leadership, for the sake of being subordinates. Disagreement with leadership does not tantamount to treachery. If the leadership is making decisions no longer benefited the majority of the people, then the people should do the necessary to ensure that the leaders who are protecting the interest of the majority is elected to office.

In the past, the Malay Rulers agreed to allow the British to ‘manage’ their state because they had become obtuse and looking for ‘easy money’ (Where Malay Rulers are offered handsome pay and lifetime pension for their powers and sovereignty). The pattern is much history repeating itself when he talked about Iskandar Development Region (IDR). The Government is now inviting foreigners to indiscriminately develop the prime area in Asia’s continent southest tip.

Tun Dr. Mahathir talked about how Globalisation is actually a scheme where the rich and powerful nations benefitted immensely and at the same time, oppress the poor and human-rich nations. He then cautioned for the people to look into whether is Globalisation bringing benefit to us or otherwise.

A strong message that the former Premier making a point today was its our duty to protect our sovereignty and not allow our “Kemerdekaan” eroded, bit by bit. The example he specifically made reference about is the IDR and its Free Access Zone (FAZ) foreign ‘carte blanche’ and decision made to cancel the Johor Scenic Bridge.

The IDR FAZ seamless movement of people, products and capital crossing into Malaysian border (from Singapore) will not require any form of documentation, inspection nor regulations. This seamlessness will give ample opportunites for “rogue business people” and “robbers” (penyangak dan perompak) to own businesses and properties and buy into interests, with ease. This fear also is extended against Israelis; people, products and business interests (for the record, Malaysia does not recognize Israel and Israel is a strong Singaporean ally).

dscn1011.JPG

The Gerbang Pintu Selatan CIQ complex and Scenic Bridge were planned for increasing number of traffic in and out of Singapore and to alleviate any intrusion in regular increasing Johor Bahru local traffic. Of course, to make the water in Johor Straits passable was in the interests of Malaysians as well. One interesting point Tun Dr. mahathir highlighted that the Gerbang Perdana project grew from RM 800 million to RM 1.4 billion and was wondering on the escalation.


Tun Dr. Mahathir repeated that our policies towards Singapore has been overbearingly too generous and lop-sided. He reminded the audience that First Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra expelled Singapore from the Federation because of the Singaporeans’ selfcentredness and if he was to see how situation developed today, after 42 years, he will be very disappointed.

Tun Dr. Mahathir cynically challenged the Johoreans since all these decisions made by Kuala Lumpur which involves the Johoreans, there wasn’t much response. Even when Tun Musa proposed that NEP is withdrawn from IDR, the Malays kept quiet.

On the issue of the economy, Tun Dr. Mahathir admitted and appreciated that the Chinese played an important role of nation building in their entrepreneurial nature. However, lately since business opportunities are sliding here at home, many chose to try their luck elsewhere, including China. He said if the Chinese wholesomely leave the country to do their business elsewhere, then the nation’s economic system would seriously suffer.

Tun Dr. Mahathir took snipes against the Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, as usual, again. He possed a striking question “What is more important, the suffering of the Johorean because of the Great Flood or go on holiday and officiate a nasi kandar restaurant in Perth?”

He also said the Prime Minister Abdullah lied when he cited the reason of the cancellation of the Scenic Bridge is because “the people don’t want it”. Tun Dr. Mahathir now calls Prime Minister Abdullah as in the same league of leaders such as George Bush, Tony Blair and John Howard; Liars!

During the zestful Q & A session, a local resident suggested that a referendum be made pertaining to the Scenic Bridge issue mand for once, set the record straight. Another audience, a local resident of Indian ethnicity who lives in Gelang Patah said that if the Malays within IDR suffer because of NEP no longer gives them advantage against foreign businesses, then naturally the Indians and Chinese will be affected too.

A local UMNO Youth ask about Tun Dr. Mahathir’s opinion about UMNO Youth, According to Tun Dr. Mahathir, UMNO Youth supposed to be the activist within UMNO but that is not the case. For example UMNO Youth did not have an opinion and stand on FTA with the US issues. He was honest enough to point out that when his son, Dato’ Mukhriz Mahathir commented to the media on the UMNO Presidential Address in November 2006’s AGM, there weren’t any new materials in the speech a result, UMNO Youth spend a lot of time reprimanding him instead.

Undoubtedly, this is the feistiest critic Tun Dr. Mahathir had against current issues and the administration. I am so glad he did it on an UMNO platform and it attracted so many non Malays Malaysians’ attention and participation. This only shows that Tun Dr. Mahathir now has overwhelming support of Malaysians and his speech is getting more prickly and open.

More of this 82 year old much loved statesman were to come, within this 2007.