with thanks to asmawi yusof for the images
Are Malaysians today more corrupted then the Filipinos,the Thais and the Indonesians were at the peak of their corruptness?How long has corruption been going on in this country of ours? Has it been there from the time of Tunku, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn? Or has the Internet made it possible for us all to be more aware of its pervasive presence? Today when we talk about government departments, about the Police, about the Ministry of Defense and about the politicians – especially the politicians – all the talk is about how corruption seems to color and shadow everything that they do.
Our
perception of UMNO is tainted by the wealth gathered by the families
and cronies of past Prime Ministers and Ministers and by the decadent
lifestyle of past and present BN politicians.
Pakatan
Rakyat is still new at the game – but novice or not there are already
fledging exponents within Pakatan Rakyat willing to chance shame and
expose for quick financial gains. Could not a few years in federal
government hone their ability to do it better? The thought of this
possibility is indeed depressing!
The
mistake we make is in thinking that Pakatan Rakyat can bring about
change to the system of politics and Government, as we know it now –
where money politic and political
patronage is endemic. Neither those in Barisan Nasional or those in
Pakatan Rakyat can live in a corrupt society without being corrupt
ourselves!
Corruption
is not only an UMNO problem. Corruption is a human problem. Our problem
is that endemic and systematic corruption within all things Malaysian
has made it part of our moral character and culture - part of our way
of life. Corruption is a manifestation that this Barisan Nasional
government – the only government we have known since Merdeka – have
failed in its duty of care towards our people – failed in its choice of
what is morally and ethically correct to do.
There
was a time when bribes were paid to get you out of illegal or criminal
situations that you have got yourself in. Today bribes are still paid to
get wrong things done but more often now it is to get the right things
done at the right time.
When
Mahathir became Prime MInister, corruption took a quantum leap forward -
if doing such an illegal and despicable act could ever be said to move
forward. For Mahathir corruption was a means to an end.
Mahathir made corruption respectable.
He took government fraud and corruption from something done in the back
alleys, darkened rooms and behind closed doors of the powerful and the
privilege to something that was done in Government, in Cabinet and in
the office of the Prime Minister.
What
would you say if you knew that this Mahathir intended to give “fail
safe” business opportunities to his cronies and families? Fail safe
because if these ‘business opportunities’ went bad his cronies and
family could expect a bailout using our Nations resources at minimum or
no costs to them or they can just walk away leaving our Nation stuck
with the losses? This is nothing short of corruption and collusion by
Mahathir and his cronies and families to steal money from the Rakyat! These business opportunities had no redeeming value at all for the Nation
– only profits for Mahathir and his cronies. Out of these ‘business
opportunities’ have come into being wealthy and ‘respectable’ UMNO and
Barisan Nasional families who flaunt their wealth and live the lives of
the rich and famous! Huh! Who told them they are respectable?
So
Mahathir’s family is respectable? As respectable as a Mafia family can
be when they get their wealth from corruption and profiteering! There
are people in Malaysia
today who think highly of Mahathir’s family but it is only because they
don’t know his family as we do. Mahathir’s family become wealthy and
‘respectable’ when Mahathir reached the pinnacle of his career as a
crook…err I mean as a politician (well they are both one and the same
thing in as far as UMNO is concern!)
Now we face the future after the 13th general election still unsure if the aftermath
of that general election will see us rid ourselves of corruption. Do
not be too hopeful of that happening soon. To rid ourselves of
corrpution work must start with the education of our children on its
evil. Work that would take at least a generation of Malaysian to even
take hold. So let us choose our leaders well.
For now the two symbols of political leadership
today in Malaysia is Najib and Anwar - each with enough extra baggage
to be refused a seat on any flight – domestic or international - even
if they offer to pay for the extra kilograms! But they are all we have
for now!
Sometimes
you have to think with your heart. That time, for our country, for our
people and for our future is now. All that we need to know about these
two people have been in the public domain for all of us to see and
ponder, dissect, agree of disagree for far too long a time. Even the
Courts have had their say but I am sure that there will still be stories
to tell in the days to come. And what has not yet been told about these
two people are not worth knowing because it must have happened so long
ago that it will have no relevance to the times that we now live in.
What we are all asked to do now is to choose who, between the two of
them, shall be our leader! Who deserves to be Prime Minister of
Malaysia!
Our
country has never been in this situation before. We have never been
given the opportunity to choose who we want as our leader in the first
instance. In the initial appointment of Tunku, Tun Razak, Hussein Onn,
Mahathir, Pak Lah and Najib as Prime Minister, the people were not
consulted. Always UMNO decides.
Today
things are different. We have a choice. If we vote BN we choose Najib.
If we vote Pakatan Rakyat we chose Anwar. Who shall we choose?
Najib
will not have it easy. Even if the Rakyat gives him victory he will
still have to answer to UMNO – or should I say Muhyiddin? If he fails to
win back Selangor and secure two third majorities in Parliament – then
he is just warning up the seat for Muhyiddin.
For Anwar all he needs is a simple majority and he will rule from Putrajaya. Who then shall we chose?
I
believe that of the two Anwar has been tried and tested and not found
wanting in his ability to survive and serve as a political leader. He
stands resolute in the face of all that UMNO can throw his way. For all
that he and his family has endured I believe they are the better for it.
We have need of leaders of his caliber. And with him he brings Azizah
and Nurrul! What more can we ask? ABU!
1 comment:
I agree 200% and more. Kick out all the thieves. Anwar was also a thief but he's the lesser thief so I guess he's safer. The people have also seen him suffer these past 15 years and we wonder if he would fail us if we send him to Putrajaya. Let us take a chance with the lesser thief and hope he doesn't go back to his bad habits once he sits securely in Putrajaya. Let's send the Fat Woman back to where she came from LOL
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