How Mahathir the clown entertains us
“Mahathir has come to do just that. People wait for him to get to the microphone to hear him speak and crack jokes. Everyone wants to listen to ‘Mahathir the clown’. However, when it comes to casting the ballot paper, what Mahathir says is akin to an entertainer in comedy court. Nobody takes him seriously anymore. After all, a clown’s place is in the circus, not in the political coliseum.” — Karamjit Singh
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Political analyst Prof Madya Awang Azman Awang Pawi wrote the piece below that was published in Free Malaysia Today. I am not sure whether this so-called ‘political analyst’ come professor is just plain ignorant or he thinks the rest of us are. I am also not sure how he got his PhD but he certainly does not deserve it. The fact that he is an associate professor at Universiti Malaya probably reflects the low standards of that university.
Former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad never resorted to drastic measures when faced with opposing views from his predecessors.
That was Awang Azman’s first point. Tunku Abdul Rahman, the first Prime Minister, actually supported Team B in 1987 and opposed Tun Dr Mahathir. Mahathir then resorted to ‘drastic measures’ by closing down Umno. Tunku and the third Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn, never joined the new Umno formed in 1988 and both died outside Umno.
The only problem is back in the late 1980s and early 1990s there was no Internet yet. So, although a lot was being said and done, it was mostly being said and done in the Malay heartland and in the Malay urban areas such as Kampung Baru, etc. How many of you (Awang Azman included) toured the ceramah circuit (in mostly the Malay areas and neighbourhoods of Malaysia) like we did about 25-30 years ago? Were some of you even born yet?
Awang Azman then talks about “the sacking of suspended Umno Deputy President Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir from Umno.” Awang Azman, however, did not explain why they were sacked and he left it to our own imagination as to why they were sacked. However, based on the opening statement in that report below, the impression given is that they were sacked for opposing or disagreeing with Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
The truth is, according to the constitution of most, if not all, parties, if you were to work with the other side to campaign against your own party then you can get sacked from the party. For example, if you were to contest as an independent candidate in an election against your own party then you automatically get sacked. Also if you support an opposing candidate against your own party you can also get sacked.
So those two were sacked not for disagreeing with Najib, as how Awang Azman is insinuating. They were sacked for working against their own party, Umno. Of course, if they are not happy with the party leadership, or with the party president, they can always try to change that leadership or oust the president during the party elections. But to try to oust your own party from power just so that you can oust the president is considered treason or a treacherous act against the party.
Which part of menderhaka kepada parti does Awang Azman not understand?
If Awang Azman wants to be regarded as a political analyst then he should analyse and not spin. When he spins he becomes a spin-doctor and not a political analyst. At least Karamjit Singh did a better analysis in his piece, ‘Pakatan must dump Mahathir or risk losing GE14’ (READ HERE).
Amongst some of the things that Karamjit said were as follows:
The sorry state of the country today is due to Mahathir’s leadership. Although some may say he has repented and is therefore trying to correct his mistakes, it is important to note that Mahathir has never accepted his wrongdoings till today. He still maintains that he was right in everything he did. There is absolutely no remorse in him.
In fact, despite the extra-marital relationship with PH, Mahathir has never taken a stand that Umno has to be defeated. He only says that Umno needs to lose so that Najib can be overthrown. He is only holding the Opposition’s hand for aid to remove Najib. Once that is done, he will shamelessly return to Umno and revive Mahathirism through his son. It is an obvious fact that Mahathir still envisions Mukhriz Mahathir as Malaysia’s next prime minister.
Mahathir is a liability in any organisation. He practices selective amnesia and tells partial stories. If you are with him, a murder goes unpunished. But if you are against him, even a minor theft will be condemned to death.
Now that, dear Awang Azman, is what I would call an analysis.
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Analyst: Dr M never resorted to drastic measures against predecessors
(FMT) – Former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad never resorted to drastic measures when faced with opposing views from his predecessors. From the late first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman to the third Premier Hussein Onn, Mahathir never went against them despite criticisms stemming from differing views.
Political analyst Prof Madya Awang Azman Awang Pawi said this was the way to go in a democratic country where all voices had the right to be heard.
“Mahathir is the country’s statesman, which means he belongs to Malaysians, not just to a political party. His views should be considered as being honest, especially coming from someone who is aged and more experienced.”
He was speaking to FMT over the Umno Supreme Council’s decision to have the government cease all financial funding to Mahathir’s Perdana Leadership Foundation. Prime Minister Najib Razak said this was because Mahathir had used the foundation as a centre to meet and formulate plans aimed at toppling the government.
Awang Azman, an associate professor at Universiti Malaya, said now the public will get to see just how far corporate bodies, formed during Mahathir’s 22 years’ of service as PM, were willing to go against the tide and provide financial assistance to the foundation.
He also said the public could no longer close one eye over the drastic consequences of Umno’s landslide victory in the recent twin by-elections.
This included the alleged “forced” resignation of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Abu Kassim Mohamed, the sacking of suspended Umno Deputy President Muhyiddin Yassin and former Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir from Umno, as well as the termination of government financial assistance to Mahathir’s foundation.
Awang Azman said had Umno lost in the twin Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections on June 18, the government would not have had the confidence to carry out these drastic measures. “Najib’s perception is that the public supports Barisan Nasional’s leadership, especially now with PAS appearing to be friendly towards them.”
