Malaysian Maverick: introduction by author and review by Dr. Maznah Mohamad

The following video was recorded during the book launch on Dec 4, 2009. There was a short introduction by the author about the book. It was followed by an insightful review by Dr. Maznah Mohamad, a senior research fellow at Institute of South East Asian Studies, NUS. She articulated how Mahathir had skilfully skirted the law and checks and balances for his own vision for Malaysia. Along the way, he crushed his opponents and practised corruption, to the long-term detriment of Malaysia.

By Air Kosong

The book, “Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times” by Barry Wain, has bared it all on corruption of more than 22 years under Mahathir rule. It detailed how the New Economic Policy was abused by Mahathir and his UMNO cronies, causing billions of ringgits of public funds unaccounted for or squandered away. Of the economic progress amidst the mega structures that we can see sprouting up in Malaysia during Mahathir years, there are many more deep holes that would take generations for the nation to heal. The book was at one stage being held up by the authority for scare of the damage it would cause to the ruling UMNO-BN regime. Eventually it managed to reach the bookshelves of Malaysia, by which time it was already a best-seller in Malaysia and Singapore.

Watch the 10-part video below, especially parts 1 and 2.

Watch at: https://airkosong.com/_/2011/01/20/malaysian-maverick-introduction-by-author-and-review-by-dr-masnah/