Man has dual nature; he is both his own person and a member of his country. On the one hand, the law must protect the individual from the injustices of the multitude. History has shown how individuals fall prey to mass perversity, their crime being simply a refusal to conform to the beliefs and prejudices of the majority.
Anwar Ibrahim, The Asian Renaissance, 1997., Page 63.
The value system and ethical code therefore determine the success or failure of corrective measures. If the value system is wrong, corrective measures will not be productive or will be only slightly productive. When the value system motivates, very little corrective measures are needed.
Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad, The Malay Dilemma, 1970., Pages 172-173.
Introduction
Malaysia is our motherland. We love our country. This country has so much of wealth. Even though, Malaysia has agonized considerably in past three decades because of the malpractices of the corrupted characters but she is never fail to provide the needs to us.
Therefore, it is a duty of every Malaysians to re-align themselves by directing the current leaders to put the interest of this country above their own personal agendas. The future of Malaysia is more important than anything else. We have to validate that country is on the right path for future glory.
The biggest challenge for us now to identify and elect a good leader to govern us in near future. This leader should understand the aspirations of all Malaysians. In a democratic process the people is the master of the nation not the leaders.
The question is whether we have the capable leaders to lead us for future?
The obvious answer is Dr. Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim.
But, in many occasions, we have seen that both of them clash themselves. Then, with the present development do we have a choice to choose any other leaders apart from them?
According to tradingeconomics.com, the government debt to Malaysian GDP is projected to stretch 53% by December 2020. Hence, the country needs a clean and patriotic leader to overcome the current and future economic debacles.
The clash of personality
Since late 1960s, Malaysia has produced a number of great leaders, who love this country profoundly. Dr Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim are among those leaders who loves this country undisputable.
During their tenure as the Prime Minister and Finance Minster of Malaysia, the country as emerged as the Asian economic tiger.
Both these leaders have a strong leadership style but their approaches are utterly different. There is a clash of personality between them.
Dr. Mahathir has never shown empathy on his enemies especially those who have betrayed him and undermine the interest of this country. When the country is on the downfall in recent years, he is not willing to forgive that person/persons. He always laid the interest of the nation above his own interest. At the twilight age, he is willing to sacrifice himself for the betterment of this nation. Commonly, he is misunderstood for his ‘hidden’ actions which had ulterior motives for the growth of this land.
Where else, Anwar Ibrahim has shown unwarrantable compassion towards his own enemies who have grassed him. The current expulsion of the party members who had played an instrumental role to the downfall of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has been seen as a delay in action. He has quoted that he knows the conspiracy for a quite some time but reluctant to take any actions against the conspirators because they have commanded considerable support within party members.
It is a good strategic because the fact/truth is already presented to the party members and public. Further he has quoted that the party members had recognised these leaders within party who had betrayed the elected government and went against with mandate of the people. Even though, Anwar Ibrahim was criticized at that time for his procrastination but his reputation remains intact as a people’s politician.
In politics, the Dr. Mahathir’s approach is preferable compare to the Anwar Ibrahim because there a need to take a decisive action to resolve an imperative matter. The rise of Dr. Mahathir within UMNO and subsequently as the Prime Minister of this country demonstrated his capability to manoeuvre the striving challenges for his own advantage.
In conclusion, Anwar Ibrahim is an idealistic person. By contrast, Dr. Mahathir is a pragmatic person. Some commenters have even labelled him as a Machiavellian which one unequivocally differed.
The incidents
In general opinion, when Anwar Ibrahim published his book, The Asian Renaissance, it’s had created anxiety among his party members especially the elite group. By, then, a discreet system is already in place for the upper class members of the ruling party to benefit themselves financially. Their biggest fear was that when Anwar Ibrahim sworn in as the Prime Minster, he is going to dismantle this system. This system is not only benefitting them but also their cronies. Therefore, they have created a hostile environment by portraying Anwar Ibrahim who is plotting against his mentor, Dr. Mahathir. This has triggered his sacking from the government and party positions on 2 September 1998.
In May, 2020, Anwar Ibrahim is supposed to sworn in as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia. Two months earlier, the PH government was overthrown because some of the leaders within the coalition are opposed to this notion. Even though all the leaders and members in the coalition have agreed to this transition of power but at the later juncture some of them are totally against it. Many Malaysians view this situation which is very similar with the 1998 incidents but in the different mould.
The leaders
Dr. Mahathir is twice inaugurated as the Prime Minister of Malaysia (PM). For him to go through the process again, is uncalled for. At this stage he can offer himself as a Senior Minister or Minister in Mentor. There is no doubt he still possessed implausible energy to carry on his duties as PM but we cannot ask more from him now. He can help to settle the current catastrophe removing all the undesirable/negative elements within our country and reset the direction of the nation, again.
Then, whether Anwar Ibrahim has the competence to lead this nation to its greatest stature.
With the current crop of leaders, nobody is suffered like him. He went to the prison when he had a young family to look after. He was beaten in custody by some ‘loyalists’ and he got his infamous ‘black eye’. Strangely, at that point of time, he was ex-Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia. He was imprisoned twice. These reasons are not a prerequisite for him to become the Prime Minister of this country.
Like, Dr. Mahathir he is willing to sacrifice himself for this country.
When he was in government and as a member of the ruling party he has plenty of choices to choose to enrich him, his family and his friends. But, he refuses to materialize those opportunities.
Further, he is consistent, approachable and listen to the predicaments of needy people. Another important factor is he is a clean person. Further, he understands the expectations of Y and Zee generations’ wishes.
He also has the experiences as a government and opposition leader which will be useful in managing this country. He can be very accommodative for both sides and this will help the nation to move forward in acceleration.
The questions
Even though Anwar Ibrahim has so many good qualities and still unassailable good support from general public why a number of people still against with him.
They are still manoeuvrings with their strategies and efforts to stop Anwar Ibrahim from becoming the next Prime Minster of this country with all cost.
They have succeeded twice.
The question is why they wanted to do, again?
What are the benefits that they are going to get?
If, Anwar Ibrahim become the Prime Minister, what is their loss?
The conclusion
In a nutshell, both Dr. Mahathir and Anwar Ibrahim are capable leaders.
Even though they have had mutual respect among themselves but the people who are entailed with them have some adverse interest. They had created the mistrust as a weapon to destroy the cooperation between them. Further they have manipulated them for their own financial and political gains.
Now, the trust has been re-calibrated. Both Anwar Ibrahim and Dr. Mahathir have reconciled. They are determining to strengthen their own party with coalition members for the benefit of this nation.
Anwar Ibrahim is a reformist. He always said that he wants to change the corrupted system. As Malaysians, why not we give him a chance to govern this country and if, we are not happy with him then, we can always use our ballot papers to show our dissatisfaction.
The famous quote of John F. Kennedy, ‘ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’
This is a very important quote to reflect ourselves on the roles that we should play proactively to push our country/leaders to move forward with right path for the benefit of our next generations.
Kuala Lumpur
13.5.2020
3.30am
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