Prodigy

The Promuda Mouthpiece

Issue 1, July 2002

FOCUS 

Dr. M’s Leaving  

When the man who has ruled our country for so many years suddenly announces that he wants to resign, what do we do? How do we cope? How do we feel? And, how do we go on?

We publish contributions from two members who pondered the issue. Each approaches the matter from a unique, valid perspective, but both profess deep love and respect for the man who has led Malaysia for the past twenty years.  

Dr. M - Leader par Excellence

By Tun Faisal Ismail Aziz

How should we feel if our father passes on? Do we cry for the loss? Or, imagine the wonders of inheriting his estate, filled with wealth? Is it appropriate to feel like saying, "Yeah! It’s about time he left!”?

When our PM announced his resignation, the first emotional reaction that struck us indicates the depth of our love for him. For those who regard him as a father, they will feel the loss of someone they love very much.  There were those at the Assembly who lost control and broke into tears. 

For those who love him ‘materially', the first thing that’ll strike their minds would be how the share market and the domestic economy are going to fare after the news. This thinking is no different than thinking about inheriting your father’s wealth should he pass away. There are those that question the timing and manner of the announcement, whether it was appropriate or not. They will laugh if the `incident' increases their net-worth, but curse if it causes their wealth to decline. 

For those whose father is bed-ridden or in a state of coma for a long time, his final passing would be accepted, albeit with a heavy heart, as the pain is alleviated. They will feel the loss of a family member, but at the same time they feel a kind of relief at not needing to bear the burden any longer.

The first emotion is usually the truest emotion.  Only a day or two after the incident do we start to`rationalise' events and become reasonable.

When the demise of the Prophet pbuh (Peace be Upon Him) was announced, Muslims were dismayed and could not stop themselves from crying. The Prophet’s close friend, Umar al-Khattab, was unable to accept the news and threatened to behead anyone spreading the news of his death.

A similar incident took place, when YAB Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation from all his posts in UMNO and Barisan Nasional. Malays, especially UMNO members and sympathisers, were shocked and deeply saddened by his announcement.

The high emotions exhibited by Malays in the past few days is demonstrative of what is explained above. However, those that attribute the initial response to lack of confidence in the new Malay leadership are in error.

Looking back at history, the demise of the Prophet pbuh was an event that could not be averted. 

Mahathir’s decision could be, and thus why supreme council members, delegates and observers endeavoured to make him retract his decision.  One must try to keep one’s father with them.

Malays are not afraid to face this departure since they have evolved psychologically due to Dr Mahathir's exemplary leadership. The Melayu Baru created by Dr Mahathir have all the confidence in facing future challenges. This Melayu Baru will emerge as the new breed of leaders, they who will bring changes and persistently protect the interest of the Malays.

For more than two decades, Dr Mahathir has brought in substantial change to the mind, character and values held by Malays and Malaysians. He has fruitfully built up the spirit of the Malaysian Nation, which has been the core of his Vision 2020.

He has successfully shifted the Malaysian economy from being agriculture-based to industrial-based, and now, to a knowledge-based one. He has stopped foreign attempts to colonise our economy, successfully managed the devastating impact caused by the recent recession, and reconstructed our economy “the Malaysian way”.

Within the same period, he has also been the spokesperson and custodian to protect the interests of other races and nations internationally. He openly criticised uncontrolled globalisation by the West, and voiced out his concern over the impact of globalisation, which will make poor countries poorer and cause its citizens to suffer.

Besides that, he has played significant roles in conflicts involving countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina , Iraq , Afghanistan , and other Islamic countries. On the issue of Palestinians, he fought for the cause of both Muslims and Christians.

Undoubtedly Dr Mahathir is a great leader. His absence would be felt not only by Malays but also by all Malaysians and the rest of the world. Malays, Malaysians, Muslims and the world must thank Dr Mahathir for all the contributions he has made during his tenure as Malaysia ’s leader.

Emotionally, the Malays would want Dr Mahathir to continue leading them well into the future. But, rationally, Malays understand and respect his decision.

Like other mortals, sooner or later Dr Mahathir will depart from this life. Malays and Malaysians must accept this fact. 

In my opinion, the announcement of his resignation is timely and done after careful and thorough consideration, when he has already planned the succession of leadership in an orderly manner. He might have considered that the impact of his `sudden demise' would be even more devastating, especially economically. I believe rational Malaysians would agree with this statement.

The question now is: Are Malays and Malaysians ready to accept new leadership?

The demise of the Prophet pbuh signified the start of a new political era for the Muslims. When news of the Prophet’s death broke, the leaders of the Aus and Khazraj tribes rushed for a meeting to elect a successor from their own tribes.

The situation became very tense. Only after heated discussions did Muslims agree to accept Abu Bakar as the `Caliph'. They were persuaded by Umar al-Khattab's argument, which was based on the hints provided by the Prophet pbuh prior to his death. The orderly transition of leadership therefore prevented disunity among the Muslims at that time.

UMNO and Barisan Nasional politicians should learn from history that orderly transition of leadership would help to prevent disunity and any other adverse effects. YAB Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has been elected the Deputy President of UMNO. According to tradition, the Deputy President would replace the President should he leave his post.

UMNO politicians, especially the Vice Presidents, should give undivided support towards YAB Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Dr Mahathir's successor. Similarly, undivided support must come from the leaders of all Barisan Nasional component parties. I believe Dr Mahathir would not have resigned if he felt YAB Dato Seri Abdullah was not capable enough to lead the Malays and all Malaysians. 

Dr Mahathir's reign is a story of a nation's excellence. Like any other story from previous civilisations, the story of Dr Mahathir will be told and re-told from one generation to another. Though the era may soon end, the spirit will always remain with us, forever. 

The author wrote this piece in response to the letter “Let’s thank the PM and move on” (Malaysiakini.com, Letter to the Editor, 25^th June 2002 ).  Tun Faisal is a member of the Promuda team, and head of Religious Education in the Education & Youth Development Select Committee.

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Living the Old Man’s Values  

By Nazrin Hassan  

“Become the change that you seek in the world” – Mohandas Karamchand “Mahatma” Gandhi  

It’s final and confirmed. The grand “Old Man” of Malaysia , the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, is leaving his position in late October 2003, to be replaced by his deputy, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The wheels of the “transition period” are in motion for the eventual passing of responsibilities from this Prime Minister to next one.

Undeniably, whether you agree with all his views and actions or not, one would be hard-pressed not to think of Mahathir as a spectacular individual and a good Malaysian leader and thinker.  

He has played a prominent role in the course Malaysian political history in shaping Malaysia into what it is today, even before the time he assumed his premiership in 1981. We were lucky that the late Tun Razak had an eye for identifying talent, something that current Malaysian leaders at every level should learn. (Both the current Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister were under Tun Razak’s administration.)  

Even from his earlier writings, which can be traced back to when he was in his twenties, Mahathir was a keen social observer, in particular, in dissecting the culture, beliefs, issues and problems relating to the progress of the Malays.  

It is a passion that he has carried with him through the last 50 years at least – continuous thinking on how to change the dismal fate of the Malays. And unlike most armchair social critics, Mahathir has participated in the solutions and effected the change he wanted to see within the Malays.  

His crusade was partly a success – the position of the Malays has changed dramatically within the last 30 years, mainly during his premiership. However, Mahathir feels that he has failed on the part, which he has wanted to change the most – the typical attitude and mindset of the Malays.  

It is easier to successfully develop a country in 30 years, than to change a cultural mindset in one generation, someone should have told him. It is a credit to him that he even attempted this gargantuan task.  

He was also one of the very few Malay doctors, back then. You could say that he was one of the earliest batches of “young Malay professionals”. At that time and by virtue of his qualification as a doctor, Mahathir could certainly be regarded as above average, in intellect and capability.  

It’s not the fact that he was highly intelligent that was really outstanding, though. It’s how he applied the intelligence for the betterment of others around him that’s inspiring. And it is obvious that he has applied that philosophy consistently, all throughout his life.  

Mahathir asked questions that needed to be asked, analysed every situation thoroughly, kept coming up with his own solutions and worked towards implementing them, either through his writings in the media or through his political involvement. He was brave enough to stand out alone with his opinions, if he felt he was right. (And he was not right all the time, mind you!)  

He never shied away from controversy, nor is he unnecessarily deferential and ‘beradab’ to figures of authority (even in the days before he was Prime Minister, and especially in his confrontation with Tunku Abdul Rahman). He was an avid opponent of the typical Malay culture to “kow-tow the leader” and “out-parroting the parrot”, which is so prevalent in Malaysian politics today, just as it was in those yesteryears.   

He constantly urged the Malays and Malaysians in general, to rid the ‘mental block’ standing in the way of achievement, to rid themselves of the inferiority complex when faced with Westerners; and to believe that they can be as good as anyone in the world, if they were willing to apply their hearts and mind.  

He taught us to think critically about ‘imported’ economic solutions and not be afraid to come up with our own local solutions to economic problems. He showed us that there are two sides to every story and exposed the hypocrisy of the Western world on their occasional moral high horse, on issues of human rights and “leveling the playing field” through market liberalisation.  

Problem solving, solutions and urgency of implementation, were far more important than all-round consensus on any issue. It’s vintage Mahathir, as Malaysians of all ages and generations have come to know him. 

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Dr. M - What If?

By Nazrin Hassan

As a kid, I used to like reading the “What If” series of comics, where alternative scenarios were painted for superheroes, had their lives (or their surrounding environments) been different at its crucial turning points.  

I guess this childhood habit has continued in me, because I find myself pondering: “Would Mahathir be Mahathir, if he was born in the post-NEP years and had to go through the relatively cosier life that most of us modern-day young professionals go through now (paradoxically, under another  Mahathir, say)?”  

Would he have become the serious thinker that he is today? Would his thinking as a young person be regarded as progressive and spectacular, considering the fact that there are already so many educated ones in Malaysia nowadays? Would he have been a lawyer instead? Would he have been anti-establishment? Would he be given the media space to be critical on issues of national concern, as he was in his younger days?  

Would he have been content with just being a medical practitioner with a few clinics and earning a five-figure salary, say? Would he have joined UMNO politics at all and if so, how successful would he have been in it, especially in fighting off grassroots challenges from Malay corporate figures jousting for political positions in UMNO? Would he have led a yuppie lifestyle, hopping from one coffee joint to another nightly, in Bangsar?

Unfortunately for us, the “What If” scenarios are impossible to tell, so we would not know the Mahathir of this other dimension, of a post-NEP child with certainty. We can only speculate on what he would have done, (aside from becoming just an ordinary member of UMNO, which he confessed to) and wildly at that.  

But my objective is not to imagine Mahathir’s life in a different scenario, as much as it is to know whether we could end up with leaders of the same calibre, passion and values as Mahathir had, within the post-NEP born generation. Especially from the tertiary educated elite and the supposedly bright, young Malaysian professionals of today.  

Are we seriously grappling with the issues of the future, as Mahathir had done for us in the past? Are we thinking hard of solutions and are we making time to effect the changes that we want to see for us, and our children in Malaysia ? Are we taking steps at the micro-level of our family and communities or have we devolved all our social responsibilities to the Government?  

Or are we only focusing on the materialist and hedonistic elements of current day Malaysia with politics becoming the means to an end, for our own personal pecuniary gains?  In substance, do we even bother about helping shape the nation’s future?  

Yes, Mahathir will retire next year and we would lose the services of a good leader. No, he wasn’t always right in his opinions and on issues, but then again, who is? Yang baik jadikan teladan, yang buruk jadikan sempadan (Take the good to be wisdom, and guard against the bad).  

Yes, we will feel the impact of his departure, even with a highly capable successor in ‘Pak Lah’, who I am sure will bring Malaysia to a new age and direction.  

But most of all and far more important than the issue of losing the Old Man, is if we miss the whole point of learning from his example and the values and the passion that he carried with him, to change the fate of a people and a nation.  

We betray our appreciation of his Premiership of 22 years, if only lip service and accolades to his achievements can be given, yet with no one to continue to live his example in nation building.  

The post-NEP born generation would do well to develop and prepare their own grouping of thinkers and executors at both the micro and macro level, for nothing great in future can be achieved for the nation without thinking, sacrifice, passion and the right set of values. Think, speak up and take action, or forever regret having the course of this nation decided for you.  

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