Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad last Monday registered a strong protest about The Star deputy group chief editor II Wong Chun Wai's Sunday column questioning the lack of action on the part of the former national CEO in the fight against corruption.
The Star May 31, 2005 report headlined Dr M: My legacy will speak for me, with subhead Irate ex-PM defends his anti-corruption recordquoted Dr Mahathir as saying the most important thing in the fight against corruption is to ensure that a culture of viewing the practice (of corruption) as normal and acceptable does not develop.
"For me, this is a question of inculcating noble values, not about catchiong people," he said in response to the previous day's piece by Wong titled Pile on pressure against the corrrupt.
Wong said: "It is good that Dr Mahathir had come out strongly against corruption but personally I wished he could have done more during his 20 over years in office."
For the less initiated about the local media scene, it would appear Wong stuck his neck out with a bold and daring peice of commentary on a serious problem besetting not just these past two years -- it had been getting worse through the past two decades.
While the former PM prostesteth he had done his anti-corruption fighting, discerning readers also protesteth Wong's "belated" laments of Dr Mahathir's lack of efforts. He had been singing Dr Mahathir's praises during the latter's premiership, and now writes with gumption and daring after the "ageing" doctor had stepped down. The good doctor did not protest at all about Datuk Wong's "apple-polishing" then -- so take the good then, and the bad now -- times, they're a-changing!
It's well known several columnists at The Star are serving as echo-chambers of the reigning Prime minister. Enough said that it's traditional, and Mr, oops double Datuk! Wong is still carrying on the fine tradition. Maybe, just maybe, promote him to a Tan Sri and he'll shuddup!
Bending with the political winds ... did I invent this cliche?
When Pak Lah's regime is replaced, maybe the good datuk will find some more guts to remind Pak Lah he did not do enough during his time, not in the same department perhaps, but of another field which is the flavour of the year.
Maybe Desiderata, a former Star journalist (I like to declare my status so that readers can view my writing with the right stance!), protesteth too much?
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