With the reactionary forces now taking over Umno, Mahathir has fired a broadside calling for a strong, powerful government.
He said in his latest blog entry that a weak government would be incapable of dealing with racial and religious conflicts:
We now have a weak Government and clearly it is incapable of dealing with the tendency towards conflicts because of race and religion. Because of its weakness it commands little respect and even the weakest parties would thumb its collective noses at the Government. The Government apparently has no idea how to handle these problems. We see it apologising only to have it’s apologies rejected.
Hang on a minute. Who are the ones actually stirring these conflicts? Who exactly is responsible for “race politics”?
If the government is weak today, it is because of its inability to reform the oppressive structures, many of which were put in place during Mahathir’s time. It is this inability to reform and undo the damage of the Mahathir era that led to the Abdullah administration losing much of its popular support. In fact, the Abdullah administration’s initial popularity was premised on the hope that Abdullah’s softer approach promised to usher in an era of liberalisation that would be in stark contrast to Mahathir’s repressive rule.
Of course, we know that Mahathir’s use of the terms “strong government” and “stability” are but code words for authoritarian and even repressive rule.
Apparently, 22 years of authoritarian rule is not enough for Mahathir. It was 22 years of suppressing problems and differences and sweeping dirt under the carpet, 22 years of one scandal after another.
Now with his son Mukhriz leading the nominations for the Umno Youth chief post and other candidates inspired by the regrouping of reactionary forces, Mahathir clearly feels emboldened enough to call for a return to authoritarian rule…. err, I mean “powerful government”.
19. We have had strong Governments for almost 50 years. When we gained independence few gave us any chance. They foresaw racial clashes and political instability.
20. But they are wrong. With strong Governments in place, the bickering between races was reduced. The country was stabilised and with that the economy grew. The objective of becoming a developed country by 2020 seems possible.
21. Now with this weak Government, with incompetent leadership the country is not developing as fast as it used to.
22. In a single ethnic country it does not matter if the Government is weak because it will not have to deal with the heavy pressure of racial conflicts even if the Government is less competent.
23. My observation of Malaysian politics over the last 50 years has convinced that a powerful Government lead by competent leaders is necessary for multi-racial Malaysia.
Obviously, Mahathir has learnt nothing about the rakyat’s yearning for human rights, social-economic justice, and accountability in all aspects of public life. Obviously, he knows zilch about their aspirations for People Power and democratisation.
Mahatir the father of racism in malaysia really has some cheek. Mahatir was the dude who wrote the “malay dilemma”. Mahatir divided all the races in malaysia for the last 22 years and now he talks about fighting racism! hahahahahahahahahaha this kerala boy does have some cheek!
Mahatir was the bloke who opened the illegal immigrant floodgates and let all the indonesians and the kretek rokok into malaysia! hahahahahahahaha this ‘mallu’ kid sure knows how to divide and rule.
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Fear rears its ugly head again
United we stand, divided we fall
Cruel tyrants seek to inflict pain
Knights we must be, all for one and one for all.
Yonder tyrants rise once more
Only we can stem this evil tide
United we must stand to guard the door.
Murderous forces swiftly gather
Angry, lustful devils seeking revenge
How true that vultures of the same feather
Always sit and feed around a stench
Take courage my friend, we will overcome this sorrow
Hold strong with Truth as our defender…
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As someone said… forget what Najib the Prime Minister says. Wanna know what’s our government’s new policy? Visit chedet.com
Any bets that Dr.M will suddenly… er… flip-flop from that “champion against a police state”, back to his good old self in the 80s & 90s?
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Is that why Najib wasn’t in Parliament today to debate the budget because he was on the phone to Dr M taking orders? I agree that any govt. should be strong but it doesn’t mean it has to be authoritarian. Interestingly he mentioned “competent leaders”. Hmm, they are a rare breed in the current BN govt. Firstly you have the PM and the DPM/MoF not attending Parliament; then you get the PM speaking to the Press outside Parliament. Are they afraid of something or someone I wonder?
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anil,
what do you expect from this tyrant? aha, no more nepotism and croynism like Badawi’s administration. hey, mirzan and mokzani, time for you all to leave corporate Malaysia.
ok from now onwards no more contracts for konsortium, kencana and opcom ( as well as many other private companies). oops, i forgot. these companies secured their contracts on their own merits. others linked to Badawi are all incompetents and therefore mere cronies.
Mahatir, many like me is fed-up of your selective persecution. fed-up of your abuse of our august institutions. fed-up of your tyranny. above all, fed-up of your constant belittling of others.
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A repressive government will not work in the Malaysian context. If Najib (the chosen man by Pak Lah to be his successor) were to follow Mahathir’s advice, he will sink politically. Najib should have his own approach of winning the hearts of all Malaysians. Be yourself to earn the respect from people. The sentiment now is largely against the BN, both here and in Sabah and Sarawak. The next election will see BN in trouble, if the present sentiment were to persist. The economy is not in BN’s favour. Soon Malaysia will see more unemployment, companies closing down, exports dwindling and the ringgit sliding. Mahathir will make it worse with his arrogant ways. Najib should forget him. He never got that much respect at one time (especially after the black-eye incident) and even now he is considered as a spent force. Mahathir is history, by the way. Najib has to have his own way to survive.Depending on Mahathir will not favour him.
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The laws are there to deal with racial issues, for example, like the Ahmad Ismail case. But UMNO let it fester too long until it got out of hand.
The government is perceived to be weak, because the institutions that are supposed to be independent, like the police, (appear to be) taking instructions from their political masters. If the police were to act fairly, cases like this could have been nipped in the bud.
I foresee pretty dark times ahead, because after Abdullah’s perceived weak leadership which UMNO thinks has failed, they will now push Najib to rule with more ruthlessness, because it is something familiar, and they deemed it to have worked well before.
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Strong government and competent leader ! Oh my god,since when we have strong government and competent leader ? For the past 50 years,what we have is incompetent government and (many) corrupted leaders.
Please learn from our southern neighbor if Mahathir wanted to know what is strong government and competent leader.Otak tak masak-kah ?
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As if PR supporters should be surprised. It was never going to be a walk in the park to uproot the rotten system. But old tyrants inevitably return to face the music. Let’s see what new tricks the old … has. He got whacked in 1999 and he’s got to do worse than operasi lalang to hang on this time. ISA, sodomy II, police, msm, judiciary, racism – he’s tried the whole bag of tricks. But this time around, his kakis MCA, Gerakan, MIC are dead fish, sabah and sarawak are not as easy meat as before for infiltration by … illegal immigrants… and PAS grassroots will remain his deadly enemies. So old tricks won’t work and let’s see what new tricks he has before he kicks the bucket. Game on!
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Bloggers should get ready offshore operations.
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How can you teach an old …. new tricks ! One would have thought that at his age he has acquired or developed wisdom,but it looks like he has instead turn more foolish !
This is not the era to go into ethnicity. He should be talking of a strong Malaysian Government of Malaysians for Malaysians. Instead he is hinting at a strong UMNO government to contain the rest of the minorities and BN component parties … or often refered to as lap …. by bloggers.
We have to fight his idea every inch of the way… until and unless he is talking of Malaysians as one people working towards nation building. But knowing his style and knowing what he had done…his message is to the Malays in UNMO.
He is asking UNMO to unite against the other races. This old FART is like a … capable of infecting serious poison into the dreams of every peace loving Malaysian whose one aim is to live as one people – Malaysians.
He loves himself as a megalomaniac believing that his authoritative leadership is the answer for this country.
We cannot let it happen again.
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Mahathrism no longer needed in Malaysia.What the hell power do you need to manage a country..I mean a civilised country,Che Det.
Strong government so they can rule just like you…with your iron fist? Another Ops Lallang or more sodomy charges against someone who goes agaisnt your will?
Let us, the RAKYAT decide what we want for the future of Malaysia not what you want,Che Det.
To my opinion,a multiracial country need a neutral stateman who instill fairness for all of its citizens regardless of races. Someone like Datuk Zaid and RPK.
They both were true strong leaders , we,Malaysian are praying for since your authoritarian rule for 22 long years. Che Det, please do something non evil and redemn your sins in these remaining years of yours…..
Saya Anak Malaysia!!!
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TUN is equally to be blame eithier He is a not saint.He right off ABB.Earlier He mention Najib was a YES man.Give his blessing for KU LI.As Malaysian for the 25 million Malaysian excluding UMNO 3 million.I rather plea
with some of sense make UMNO member the least give 58 vote to KU LI.Let him fight it out with Najib.Merely pasting the baton direct to Najib who is so TINTED How to ingore….
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Dear Tun Dr.M,
…We Malaysian irrespective of race are also more concern of our country than you are. In your case you are much more nearer to the grave than we are. Prepare for the life hereafter than to bother about politics and let us prepare for our own destiny….
Though you may have done lots of ‘good’ for the country, you may have done more harm. Whatever it may be a good majority of Malaysians feel your anger towards to Pak Lah is nothing but to protect the sins you have committed against the nation and its people.
Even though we may have critised Pak Lah for being weak, do not take that your advantage and protect your own skin.
At your age, I would recommend the days of prayers and painless death. If not God has His mysterious ways of punishing.
Retire and rest … is what I would want you to do now that you have reached your 80s….
…
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That’s the problem with some old people.
They yak and yak and can’t keep their mouth shut!
Sorry eh, don’t mean all but ……
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It was Mahathir who sabotaged Abdullah’s administration when the latter was doing things not to his fancy. He was responsible for bombarding insults at Abullah almost on a weekly basic…thus, causing instability in country and in particular, UMNO.
The opportunity came when BN lost the two third majority…the invisible dictator sharpened his sword for a kill! He succeeded.
Najib will have to depend on his patronage to survive as a PM, the door is wide opened for this old fox to re-introduce his dictatorial ways. His suppressive methods are on an old battery and may not be able to withstand a different opposite force. Also, the younger generation finds them impractical and unacceptable. “Once beaten twice shy’
Retire gracefully Mr dictator and let the nation moves on.
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That’s the real and true Mahathir. I’m glad that you have highlighted that because after a while especially after going with the present useless PM people are taking softer stance toward Mahathir. And beware of his fangs and venom.
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Yes, it’s too darn bad that Badawi was not as competent as one would hope. Mahathir gets to pretend he was this great leader when really all he did was build up a store of problems and entrench them for Badawi. Even more galling now that he is blind enough to think his return would do something for the country… and I don’t think it’s all sly planning, I really do think the megalomania has taken over enough so that he really REALLY thinks he’s doing a good thing.
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I left a draft version of this comment in MT but I feel it ought to be reposted here in slightly improved form…
Mahathir’s definitions of “strong” and “weak” are every bit as crude as his way of thinking. To him, a “strong” government means an authoritarian, bullying, intimidating force: precisely how he managed to hold on to power for 22 years, creating an illusion of consensus by blacking out all dissent.
To Mahathir, UNITY = UNANIMITY. So long as you say, “Yes, sir, no, sir, three bags full, sir” you rise up the political hierarchy. The moment you disagree – as Anwar Ibrahim did when he was finance & deputy prime minister – it’s off with your head.
Abdullah Badawi inherited a CORRUPT, ARROGANT & INEFFICIENT government machinery run by thousands of mini-Mahathirs. He was quickly seduced by the grandiose trappings of political power a la Dr M’s Putrajaya. The fact that Badawi was intimidated by Musa Hassan & Gang and was therefore unable to implement the sensible recommendations of the Royal Commission on Police Misconduct shows how little say the career bureaucrat PM actually had with the day-to-day operations of managing a country. Can we blame Badawi for succumbing to the lure of lucre – not so much for himself, of course, but for (those around him) – and turning himself into a Nero, fiddling with useless megaprojects while the national economy went soggy?
Now, my definition of a STRONG government is one that is mature, responsive, self-confident and genuinely concerned about the long-term well-being of all citizens. Maturity & self-confidence are the qualities that enable a genuinely strong leader to accept brickbats & bouquets with calm, smiling equanimity – weighing the pros & cons of each policy decision & making necessary adjustments when public feedback is received. A strong leader is quick to apologize for minor errors and ready to voluntarily step down when major errors are committed – or at least take decisive action to rectify the problems.
A strong leader believes in the beauty of diversity and appreciates differences of perspective, seeing it in a holistic context, just as an experienced conductor instinctively grasps the complex nuances of the score and knows how to bring out the best from each individual musician in the orchestra.
Above all, a strong leader is ever ready to lend an attentive ear and a helping hand to those who are “weak” – rather than ride roughshod over them. Because a strong leader would have the wisdom to know that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link – and that even the tiniest component of a complex system contributes immensely to the synergetic functioning of the whole.
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Did you read the ABC ( Australian Broadcasting Corp}? Mahathir said Pak Lah must resign now ‘cos “we have a lot of work to do”. Whatever that means, I leave it to your imagination.
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Can’t believed all these criticism made by all these ingrates on our beloved Tun Dr Mahathair. He is the GREATEST PM ever to govern this country. We will still be a kampong and forever bullied by the Western countries if not of Tun. Go and learn your history !!!
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I would certainly agree with Mahathir that we need strong government for governing a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country. We need strong government in order for the economy to grow. Sadly, we’ve strong government that is corrupted under BN and Mahathir. Singapore is more fortunate to have an authoritarian leader like Lee Kuan Yew that’s not corrupted. He’s able develop Singapore into one of the main financial center. Also, they excel in science, education, air transportation, etc. What did authoritarian Mahathir achieved? What we need is a strong central government that’s not corrupted and racist! If UMNO continues Mahathir governing method then Malaysia is doom.
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Be that as it may; what alternative do we have? Looks frightening, sends chill down my spine. Anwar?? Last night I wrote about “the boy who cried wolf” in my blog.
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You think Dr M actually cares about the rakyat’s yearnings and aspirations? You must be joking!
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The politician whose words speak louder than his actions.
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