Elementary, my dear Mahathir!
In response to his letter to the editor
I feel compelled to respond to Federal Territories’ Perikatan Nasional (PN) information chief, Mahathir Mohd Rais’ letter to the editor accusing the present government of going on a witch hunt.
A new bee himself, he appears to be totally out of sync with what his voters have wanted to see corruption being dealt with severely.
Business people, especially those who are not so well-connected, find it difficult to pitch for government jobs without paying a bribe, especially when the projects are given to people within a certain circle.
In fact, those against corruption are in the majority. Therefore, how can Mahathir claim that "many" are against the witch hunt that he accused the unity government of doing?
Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim has shown his resolve to deal with corruption and in no uncertain terms, he said, "Investigate, including those in PKR."
Party Members Not Spared
No other prime minister has done this before. Anwar has instructed the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate all cases, including that of his own PKR members. This was said in the presence of his own party members in parliament just this week as a warning against PKR politicians who may be tempted to also enrich themselves while they are in power.
This, my dear Mahathir, has been well-received by the general public.
During his tenure as prime minister, Muhyiddin Yassin has never uttered such a word. Perhaps, if he had done so, he would have spared many of his comrades from becoming victims now.
To claim that “many” believe that the arrest of Tasik Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan was a malicious selective prosecution, as though it is politically-motivated. Most of us do not know who Wan Saiful is anyway, except that he was given a chance to helm the National Education Fund (PTPTN).
His decision to resign from his party therefore would make no difference to most of us, but if there is an element of corruption, we would want the MACC to act-- and to act fast, not only on Wan Saiful but on those who were blazenly stealing from the country's coffers.
If Anwar’s government is “aimed at silencing a critical voice in the opposition,” Mahathir’s voice and mine as well, as I have also been critical of the Selangor State Government, would not have been heard even in the public media.
Perhaps, Mahathir only sees it from his own circle of fellow PN and PAS politicians who thought that they were invincible in much the same way I would say of some in the Pakatan Harapan government in the state of Selangor.
His statement accusing “the PH-BN-DAP (Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional-DAP) government of engaging in selective prosecution” is nothing but malicious in itself, and an attempt to single out DAP as the punching bag, when the DAP only has four ministers in the present unity government.
If Mahathir wants to test the MACC, he should ask why reports lodged against certain individuals in Selangor are still not making much progress.
Time to Reflect, No?
Can I suggest that perhaps, this is what Mahathir should do instead: reflect over the reason why his own division, Segambut lost big to the incumbent, Hannah Yeoh.
Yeoh, as we all know her, is small in size, but she is both hardworking and always on the ground with the people. She is dedicated to her job, and I dare say she and the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman are good examples for our young people.
Mahathir should also ask himself why Pas, a component party of PN, is now a liability rather than an asset to the coalition. Any why PN, in particular Pas, is rejected by peace-loving Sarawakians.
Till today, Pas leaders are fumbling over the parade by its youth division from Terengganu, calling it the Chinese opera and a cosplay. It was also suggested that it happened within the compounds of a resort. Looking at the photographic evidence, the resort must be a huge one.
Some have even equated the parade to the Nazis parade just before Adolf Hitler rose to power – and, if the police fail act against such parades now, things can get worse. I wish to quote a Malay brother, who expressed his concern, “We don’t want another Memali or Maunah incident in this country.”
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The Country is on the Right Path Again
Allow me to say this, the country is on the right path once again, with Anwar helming the government.
Given another few more years, if Anwar is able to carry on his task of reforming the country, we will be able to fly once again, and hopefully, catch up with our fellow Asean neighbours.
Although he may not be well-liked by both politicians and civil servants who are corrupt, he has to take the bull by the horn. Fellow politicians, cabinet members and civil servants should emulate him.
Or else, the country will continue to slide down the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index, and along with it, the flight of foreign investment monies.
Finally, a word from an estate agent friend of mine for Mahathir, since the places referred in her comment are both in the Segambut constituency: “One of the good sign is foreigners are seen in most parts of Mont Kiara and Solaris; confidence is building up and hopefully here to stay for many years to come.”
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