Epic Play: Anwar is right man to lead JUSTICE option

This instalment ends the series which I started with a Prelude to Viewing Malaysia's Political Landscape on July 8, 2006.

Today I go back from where I started, with two points raised by Readers Xpyred and Mave in the discourse about what Options are on the Malaysians' plate in selceting the leaders to progress NegaraKu to developed nation status, never mind it's not done by targeted date 2020, at least we have started on the right footing.

mGf at xpyred.textfiend.net in an entry entitled
"on khairy jamaluddin: i’ve got my version, what’s your’s?"
dated June 16, 2006 had raised the question of ETHICS in the field of POLITICS.

"...suppose I tell myself, "But only the real issues matter: housing, jobs, press freedom, etc.". The question I will have to ask myself is: will I accept these issues being raised, discussed and handled by people who got to power through less than ethical means?

If I were to be pragmatic, I'd probably tell myself, "well, that's realpolitik for you". After all, politicians manage the interests of self-interested people. And self-interested people, following that logic, should root for politicians who can protect their interests best - and perhaps that also means rooting for "politicians who survive best"? Or perhaps it merely means rooting for politicians who can pander to the interests of self-interested people the best?

And that is exactly what Pericles, in his second speech, does, isn't it? Pericles, however, was recognized as the First amongst his peers; would I vote for a scoundrel who is willing to protect my interests? There are a whole host of other questions related to Pericles that I'm ignoring, but I suppose those can be set aside for the moment.

Anyway. What is the most pragmatic option? Basically, if everything RPK says about Khairy is true, if Khairy demonstrates that he can protect your interests, would you root for him?

DESIDERATA's short answer that Politics has been pragmatically defined as THE ART OF THE POSSIBLE. Another saying is also relevant -- That there are no permanent friends or foes in politics -- only permanent interests.

I had said several times that Malaysians find themselves in a neat conundrum of being caught twist THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA.
Realistically, we then make decisions to minimise the negatives that impact on us in daily living, and try to maximise the positives. Through active participation in politics -- whether you like it or not. The Epic Play on the PWTC Stage is NOT like As You Like It from The Bard -- PWTC is where the nation's policies are determined, like tghe NEP. Not in Parliament which has been turned into a ZOO sometimes; others may beg to disagree saying MOST TIMES, and who's Desi to disagree?



One of xpyred's readers, sigma,wrote:

"Ummn, I’ve been reading a bit about the Khairy Chronicles, but I don’t remember reading that he would protect my interests?

I think that one should read that chronicles with 2 pinches of salt, as a lot of what it says is through the grapevine. Not entirely RPK’s fault, mind you, but an appropriation of the blame has to go towards Malaysia’s untransparent political system too, hence forcing people to have to resort towards listening to corridor gossips for the ‘inside’ news.

I initially had great hopes for the Oxford grad. Me thought that a sound foundation of proud traditional Anglo education would expound into him the virtues of egalitarianism, equality, multiculturalism, logical reasoning and intellectual wit.

I based these assumptions of mine from the Anglo institution that I am attending, the University of Sydney. Almost all of the political clubs here, as well as the aspiring student politicians incorporate these traits in their platform. And would guess that such a premier institution lik Oxford University would be similar, if not more enamoured with these beliefs.

And since Khairy has had the chance to apply those beliefs in the real-life workings of a real country, a chance that many of those student politicians would die for, he doesn’t seem to have, through his father,(Desi: I believe he meant father-in-law, the PM?) implemented any of those admirable traits to Malaysia as yet. Hence by dissapointment with him.

Its clear that RPK isn’t a pro-Khairy fellow. Those chronicles, IMO, are bordering on libel, since they are without substantial proof.

But in none of those articles have I came across the fact that Khairy is a pragmatic politician. In fact, I still don’t know what he stands for.

To me, the epitome of a chameleon politician has got to be Anwar Ibrahim. Defender of UMNO for a moment, darling of the Opposition and the West the next moment."

Answering Sigma directly, I'm reprising this extract:

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July 1st, 2006, at 11:13 am #

"ylchong wrote:

xpyred:
:
I can safely make ONE CONCLUSION about Khairy J, by his public demonstration of KETUANAN MELAYU with his boss Hishamuddin Tun Hussein wielding the “keris” at the UMNO Youth Assembly he is the “typical” UMNO upstart following in the footsteps of current DPM Najib Tun Razak, ex-MB Selangor Muhammah Muhd Taib who similarly cried for “blood” (of non-Malays) to be shed also at a public gathering in a stadium decades earlier. SO I’d rule this “bast…” if I hope to have a Bangsa Malaysia … progressing on politics above Race, Colour, Creed and Gender; politics based on NEEDS, not RACE which I advocate in my mainly Civic Society blog.

I take a break to refer to articulate, but shakily facts-based arguments from Sigma, in particular just this point “…To me, the epitome of a chameleon politician has got to be Anwar Ibrahim. Defender of UMNO for a moment, darling of the Opposition and the West the next moment. ”

Defender of UMNO “for a moment” — close to 1-1/2 decades can’t be a moment. Anwar parachuted into UMNO — courted from his PAS-leaning ways as nationally, first as ABIM head — by Dr Mahathir, and quickly rose in UMNO to Minister, Finance Minister cum DPM by passing many other “senior” leaders, including present PM!

“…darlin of the Opposition and the West the next…”is TRUE after he was sacked (under highly controversial circumstances. still under debate to this day, in future too… BUT LET’S GIVE HIM SIME CREDIT THAT HE GAVE MALAYSIANS A CHANCE FOR “REFORM & REFORMATION” (ala French Revolution, maybe West-dervived BUT is it inherently BAD?) So on balance, this partial judgment by Sigma cannot be totally be seen as NEGATIVE to be held against the former UMNO PM-in-waiting.

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July 2nd, 2006, at 11:42 pm #

"xpyre wrote:

Ever since I saw Khairy standing behind Hishammudin as the latter wielded his keris, I grew ever more suspicious about his intentions. But here’s the difficulty: if Khairy does indeed pose as a possible, enlightened leader, what are we willing to ignore?

I think this issue is quite complicated. What’s currently on my mind is: what sort of person is Khairy - apart from the little tidbits RPK issues on his blog? How will that affect my decision about supporting him or not? IF he’s worth supporting, what price do I have to pay for that support? Is any price worth paying?

If Khairy trumps everyone and emerges the most powerful contender to the throne, how will this affect the democratic process - a party leader does not a member of parliament make; he still needs to be elected, doesn’t he? What’s going to be ‘fixed’ this time?

It’s quite a.. well. I mean, look at the democratic process. We vote, but we can only vote for candidates. Who are the candidates? Who decides on the candidates? Not the people, but the party, I suppose? Unless we’re talking about independents stepping up to the plate. Who has control? I mean, real control?

Well, just some unordered thoughts..."

July 3rd, 2006, at 12:06 am #

"ylchong wrote:

hi xpyred:

"... Basically, Under the Social Contract, ideally the Government lives up to its Compact (Agreement) as spelt out in its Election Manifesto/es to the people/electorate.
If the Rakyat/electorate are not happy, they can “vote” the present government “out of office” at the next General Elections, but this is only good in theory. The odds are stacked heavily against the opposition –with the incumbent government using the “gerrymander” in parliamentary constituencies to iit great advantage eg.a Bn constituency may have 30,000 electors but an Oppo area may have double ie. 60,000 voters!

And in realpolitik, the current destabilised stage at PWTC is due to the FACE-OFF between two camps within UMNO, the old order represented by a former PM, Dr Mahathir (plus proxies in Camp1) and the new order led by current PM Pak Lah (plus his proxies in Camp2).

My main thesis is the war is really about fighting for the Bigger Pie of the Malaysian Cake, especially blatantly open and vicious in economically challenging times. Why do you think that *”MEGA-PROJECTS” and billion-dollar old scandals being frely opened up for public scrutiny, and both new and old “Pandora’s boxes” are being opened up one by one — via the courts and mass media — for all Malaysians to SEE. As I noted, an unintended outcome of this FACE-OFF is that the mass media “seem” (Yes, I said this is a transient illussion, not a permanent reality) to be enjoying a more open and liberal environment (a “Springtime” that will last…we pray). Another sidenote is to witness the secondary roles played in the unfolding drama by ex-GEICs and current GEICS of the NST, eg Klimulah Hassan (in cahoots with Khairy Jamaludin), Brendan Pereira vs Kadir Jasin, RockyBru.

Please share your opinions if you have the time!:) ..."

July 15th, 2006, at 9:35 pm #

"xpyre wrote:

It’s as you say: they are just fighting for a larger piece of the pie. Yesterday, while leaving a client’s place, I was asked for my opinion on the whole matter and what I said then probably applies here: it’s just two self-interested clans - probably separated by a generation - who are fighting over the scraps of what remains of Malaysia.

I can’t see this current tussle as anything more than Mahathir protecting his own interests - the same interests he protected and depended on while he was prime minister. And now? Why, isn’t it surprising how expensive dismantling big mega projects are? I wonder who’s getting a share of the pie in this case…

Behind all of this is a fear yet another friend expressed quite well: what happens when these ravenous dogs run out of blood to suck out of the national coffers? Well, we’ve got rich Chinese fat cats. Might as well do them.

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The exchanges engaged by Desi with xpyred are relevant as it was primarily in answering Xpyred and Mave SM's challenge I embarked with this LONG ESSAY in several instalments -- maybe I shoould submit to UPM to publish as a textbook, and then share the "loot" eh? Just an aside, I'm happy to read today's NST frontapge:

ETHNIC RELATIOINS GUIDEBOOK WITHDRAWN
'Ther facts of history
can never be changed...
There is no need for
us to hurl accusations
at other races.' -- (PM) Abdullahj

Just add that I still would urge my ER to give Pak Lah until the end of this term -- and should he lead the BN into another term, up to second term's tenure -- to "fully deliver" his election pledges. I have mentioned some BABY STEPS taken -- Judiciary being given back some independence and dignity; the Police has come aroubnd to the establishment of the IPCMC; and some spruingtime of media freedom and openness -- whether permanent (freal) or temporal (illussion) is yet to be seen...




Okay, back to KJ and accusations some of my ER have thrown up, also by readers at several other Blogs I care to spend time at -- that Khairy and PM's son are using the PM's position to advance their business interests.


TO SUCH ALLEGATIONS about the PM's family being involved in business, I would rebut with: "Is this something new in UMNO politics?"

With this rhetorical response, I am not saying I support or condone their activities, but re-state what is a fact of UMNO politics -- otherwise, how do you explain away similar actions involving one of Mahathir's sons buying controlling interests amounting to billions in MISC (Malaysian International Shipping Corp) at one time? About the subsequent action to use Petronas to bail out MISC following the 1997/98 financial crisis. I indeed posit this was the key issue that Anwar resisted against his boss' insistence to bail out the son that led to Anwar's subsequent downfall -- of course, Anwar's being in favour of IMF (International Monetary Fund) measures to tackle the financial crisis did not help.


At about the same time, remember one MCA minister's son was approved by banks in facilities up to RM1.2billion (he did not deny the press reports which touted him then as a role model for Malaysian youths, becoming athe youngest biollionaire at age 27 in Malaysia; even Bill Gates would have envied this enterprising chap! But when the stock market soon crashed, this guy disappeared from the Malaysian corporate radar for a long time ... but that's another story.

What I am highlighting here is that UMNO, MCA and MIC and to a lessr extent, the junior component parties wityhin the 15-member BN, are all helping themselves in business, directly or via proxies. IS THIS SOMETHING NEW -- that the press has to keep harping of Khairy Jamaludin getting RM10million bank facilities to buy shares of ECM-Libra, and then using his influence, with enhanced force of Kalimullah Hassan, in bringing about the merger of ECM Libra with Avenue .....

From Tajudin Ramli's case, we see that any individual in the good books of the incumbent UMNO chief (also the PM), could be assisted in obtaining RM1.8billion to buy controlling interests in MAS; so what else is new? And do you think there is NO FUNDS (LIKE 10% COMMISSION) BEING SYPHONED OFF TO AID UMNO'S POLITICAL STRUGGLE? Desi would be naive for once and say that I do believe the marines when they said they did not fire any shots in defence when they were attacked by the Japs during Pearl Harbour attacks one Christmas morn..


If Desiderata had not started on this series on the EPIC PLAY much earlier or not just a few days ago, many of my EsteemedReaders would have a misconception I'm writing as a "fan" of Anwar. This I would like to categorically say: No, I am writing as a trained journalist studying the current politics in NegaraKu and suggesting to my ER the options before us and what I, as a concerned citizen, think is about he best, viable option on the plate. I urge that Malaysia should give Anwar a "secong chance" to become what should have taken place, the Prime Minister, as he had "expressed some regrets" serving under the Mahathir regime. Such regrets I had known being expressed only yesterday, but my series had already been planned and this is my last instalment for now, even as the PWTC saga enters into higher gear which I would report on a on-going basis.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini which ran Part 2 yesterday, I extract the fololowing highlights:


* Former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim has revealed the key players who went behind the back of the then Bank Negara governor - the late Jaffar Hussein (right) - to make foreign exchange (forex) speculations resulting in losses of up to RM30 billion between 1992 and 1994. The three survivors include current Finance Minister II Nor Mohamed Yakcop (then deputy governor of BNM during forex trading period),
and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin and their big boss, PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "That was the time I just came in (as finance minister). But I trusted Jaffar who did not know about it until I asked. He genuinely thought that it was a small amount," Anwar said.
And Nor Mohamed, then a Bank Negara assistant governor who was the point man in the forex speculation, could have been charged in court had he (Anwar) not been forced to step down. But this also resulted in the dismissal of Jaffar, who also had to take responsibility for the losses.

** Meanwhile, Anwar also expressed his regrets for failing to bring reforms when he was in government.

He said he was in the midst of tabling a new Education Act which would have seen the repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act and given more protection for vernacular schools when he was transferred to the Finance Ministry.

According to him, his efforts only went as far as circulating the draft bill, which was later neglected by his successors in the Education Ministry.

He also regretted not putting his foot down to object the construction of the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang and the Bakun dam in Sarawak

"Some said that I should have been more firm but I wasn't. But if I had done that, I would have been sacked in 1993," said Anwar, who is now the opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser.

*** Asked to comment on International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz's statement that Malaysia was still an attractive destination for foreign investors, Anwar accused her of being in "a state of denial".

**** And most significant of all, IMHO, Anwar also spelled out at length some of the economic reforms the country must undertake in order to regain its competitiveness, which included the dismantling of the 35-year-old New Economic Policy.

A day before, Part 1 of Malaysiakini's report said that Anwar was of the opinion that
"... he does not expect Najib to mount a challenge against Abdullah because the DPM is too "guarded and calculative" to take advantage of the on-going crisis within the ruling party. '

“He is never known to have strong views. We would probably have to consult (Najib's wife) Rosmah on her views too… but I don't foresee this sort of challenge,” he quipped.[...]

"...Najib has always been seen to follow this feudal tradition... he's not the new liberal Malay except for the facade.

Anwar, however, said Najib's statements of support for Abdullah has been "far from convincing".

DESIDERATA: I believe Najib has had a life handed him on a "silver spoon" from the ascension into Parilament (following the demise of his father, Tun Abdul Razak) at a young age (interrupting his studies in London...), later he became the "youngest state Menteri Besar, of Pahang", and of course, I had relared Razaleigh's "unfortunate" tasting of Najib's bending with the wind politics or the "fence-sitter", with his own ambitions, as an astute foreign journalist recently noted!

Anwar also alleged that Umno, which he was once part of, had amassed a cash horde of RM8 billion. He said this was done through an opaque system of Umno-linked tycoons and companies holding the money on behalf of the party.

Anwar also noted that there was a tinge of racism in Mahathir's criticisms against the Singapore government, especially on the crooked bridge issue. Quote:

“This is Singapore, our neighbour - setting aside that it is a difficult neighbour - but still the subtle racist undertones to my mind is very irresponsible on his (Mahathir's) part,” said Anwar...

“Not only (he raised the issue of) nationalism but (he) also (spoke) against the Chinese and Singapore (whom he claimed are) trying to act tough against the Malay leadership and that they (the Chinese leadership in Singapore) should be taught a lesson.

DESIDERATA: My reading tells me that the present (former PM) Dr Mahathir-Pak Lah (current PM )FACE-OFF will take to a higher level -- so approprate between former DPM (Anwar Ibrahim) and current DPM (Najib Razak.
Sdr Anwar was also coincidently in Australia when Pak Lah went for his long holiday (cum sinus operation) -- I believe the two could have "accidentally" met up, as Oxford-trained Khairy Jamaludin can be relied on to set up such incidents.

Regarding Pak Lah's son's involvement in business, there is an "old" write-up dated
Thursday, March 03, 2005 entitled
Scomi Group Berhad: Malaysia’s new ‘hungry ghost’
which you have top take the trouble to read, but as I say, since when have Malaysians been surprised with political scions to leverage advantage in politics and business? Just a few paragraphs:


"Scomi Group Berhad first hit the radar screens when it became known that one of its subsidiaries, Scomi Precision Engineering Sdn Bhd (Scope), was being investigated by both the Malaysian and international police with regards to its links with a Dubai-based Sri Lanka businessman, BSA Tahir, over his alleged involvement in the supply of nuclear technology to Libya. Suddenly Scomi became a household name and it was then that Malaysians became aware that this oil and gas group was linked to the family of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In the end, the investigation cleared Scomi of any wrongdoing, though Tahir himself was not so fortunate. "

To reiterate, What do you expect of UMNO politics-corporate nexus? It won't end with Mr Nice Guy's ascension to PMship, but I believe he's the lesser of the evils represented by Najib supported by Mahathir!


It's just changing of the guards -- more of the same, perhaps with robber baronry and seepage on a lower level because of closer scrutiny, not least from Bloggers! -- but I hope the blardy Opposition gathers some Economic ThinkTank to focus on the BIG picture and fighting for nation's priorities, not partisan gamemanship! (like some of the BN components have, but their objective is to MAXIMISE INCOMES for the party&cronies! Just mention UMNO (pro-Najib) Baginda Razak, Gerakan's Khoo Khay Peng, and Sabah's Jeffrey Kitinggan...).

Before parting temporarily to await ACT 2 of the Epic Play, may I share an observation or two with thee?

Reading about Anwar's "dig" at Najib's wife, can I just add that the "wife" factor does indeed play a BIG part in the present Acts. It is commonly known that Pak Lah's late wife, Datin Seri Endon Mahmood, (may her soul rest in peace) got on pretty well with Anwar's wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah, PKR President. And we wall know while Endon and Rosmah had attended some functions together, they tried darn'd hard NOT to establsih eye-contact. Sorry for Raja Petra-style story-spinning, but that's all I can say at the moment.

In the coincidence of Pak Lah and Anwar being in Australia at the same time, do you think they would have met up to exchange greetings?

In the coincidence of Najib's hurried trip to the UK when Dr Mahathir also adjourned there from his European holiday, do you think they would have met up to exchange greetings?