Anwar Ibrahim is the problem, not the solution
But then whatever is wrong with Malaysia is because of Anwar. Whatever Mahathir and Daim may have done to Malaysia was possible because of Anwar. Anwar helped Mahathir and Daim screw Malaysia. If there had not been a person named Anwar, then Malaysia would have been saved back in 1987 and Daim would not have existed and Malaysia would not have lost RM100-200 billion.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
The comments made by Malaysiakini readers in the following pieces make most interesting reading:
1. Hardcore Pakatan Harapan supporters do a U-Turn on Mahathir
2. And now hardcore Pakatan Harapan supporters feel cheated by Anwar Ibrahim
If you really thought that Anwar Ibrahim was going to bring changes or reforms to Malaysia, or that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s appointment as Prime Minister or PM7 in May 2018 was god-sent, then you certainly have grounds to be disappointed.
What many do not realise is that Mahathir and Anwar feed off each other. Mahathir would not exist without Anwar and vice versa. You needed both, Mahathir and Anwar together, for them to have come this far.
Mahathir is what he is because of Anwar and vice versa
When Mahathir became prime minister in 1981, he was forced to make a very important decision. Refuse to allow Anwar to join Umno and let him go to PAS — or allow Anwar into Umno where he can be controlled and used.
Mahathir chose the former. If Anwar joined PAS, that may make PAS stronger because Anwar was perceived as an Islamic firebrand. Whereas if Anwar joined Umno instead, that would give Umno a boost to the Islamic image it so needed after being branded a kafir (infidel) party.
More importantly, said Mahathir, in Umno, Anwar could be controlled.
Hence Mahathir and Anwar complemented each another. Mahathir would not have made it this far without Anwar, while the same applied to Anwar — he would not have made it this far without Mahathir.
Anwar is very much involved in the great IPP robberies all over Malaysia
In short, whatever Mahathir is today is because of Anwar, while Anwar would not be what he is today if not also because of Mahathir. Mahathir and Anwar are a team. And it is because they are or were a team is the reason that they are what they are.
This is something many Malaysians do not realise. They look at Mahathir as one commodity and Anwar as another. Sometimes they even look at Anwar as the opposite to Mahathir. The truth is: Mahathir and Anwar are the same thing. As P Ramlee said, irama dan lagu tak dapat dipisahkan.
For all intents and purposes, Mahathir’s political career practically ended in 1987 after just six years as Malaysia’s fourth prime minister or PM4. Before Christmas of 1987, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah would have been Malaysia’s fifth prime minister with Tun Musa Hitam as his deputy.
If that happened, then this would have meant Anwar’s political career would also have ended. Hence Anwar had to make sure that Mahathir survived so that he would survive as well. Anwar had to save Mahathir to save himself. So, Mahathir’s victory in the Umno party election in 1987 was to a very large extent Anwar’s doing.
Anwar was not trying to save Mahathir. He was trying to save himself. But he needed to save Mahathir in order to save himself. And that resulted in Mahathir staying 22 years as Malaysia’s fourth prime minister instead of just six years.
Hence when we condemn Mahathir for what he did over 22 years as Malaysia’s fourth prime minister, do not forget that this was only possible because of Anwar. And over those 22 years, Anwar covered many of Mahathir’s misdeeds, transgressions, abuse of power and corrupt acts.
Whatever is wrong with Malaysia today is because of these three people: Mahathir, Anwar and Daim
Yes, many people accuse Mahathir of misdeeds, transgressions, abuse of power and corrupt acts. They say Mahathir and Tun Daim Zainuddin stole or wasted RM100-RM200 billion of the taxpayers’ or rakyat’s money.
Correction. It was not Mahathir and Daim who stole or wasted RM100-RM200 billion of the taxpayers’ or rakyat’s money. It was Mahathir, Daim AND ANWAR who stole or wasted RM100-RM200 billion of the taxpayers’ or rakyat’s money.
There may have been two bank robbers who entered the bank. But there was a third man, the driver of the get-away car. So, technically, there were THREE bank robbers — Mahathir, Daim AND ANWAR.
Who covered for Mahathir in the RM31.5 billion Bank Negara Forex scandal and hid the truth from Parliament? Who covered the multi-billion YTL IPP scandal in Paka, Terengganu? Who covered the RM1 billion Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd scandal involving Mirzan Mahathir?
Anwar helped Mahathir perpetuate all his crimes but Mahathir alone is being blamed
Then there was the Perwaja scandal involving Eric Chia, the Malaysian Overseas Investment Corporation (MOIC) scandal involving Abdullah Ang, the Bakun Dam scandal involving Ting Pek Khing’s Ekran Berhad, the Petronas Twin Towers scandal involving Ananda Krishnan, the DRB-Hicom scandal involving Yahya Ahmad, the MAS scandal involving Tajudin Ramli, and many, many more.
Yes, whether Mahathir and Daim stole or wasted RM100 billion or RM200 billion of taxpayers’ money is still being debated (some say it was RM160 billion). But whatever amount it may have been, it would not have been possible without Anwar’s help. And this fact most Malaysians seem to have overlooked — the fact that it was not Mahathir and Daim but Mahathir, Daim and Anwar.
So, how can Anwar be the solution when he was the problem?
Pakatan Harapan says Malaysia needs reforms. Pakatan Harapan says Malaysia needs changes. Pakatan Harapan says Malaysia needs a new system. Pakatan Harapan says Malaysia is corrupt. Pakatan Harapan says Malaysia has gone to the dogs. Pakatan Harapan says Malaysians need a NEW Malaysia.
But then whatever is wrong with Malaysia is because of Anwar. Whatever Mahathir and Daim may have done to Malaysia was possible because of Anwar. Anwar helped Mahathir and Daim screw Malaysia. If there had not been a person named Anwar, then Malaysia would have been saved back in 1987 and Daim would not have existed and Malaysia would not have lost RM100-200 billion.
