Another A-Joke -- from a Malaysian Abroad?

Desi read The Star Sept 5, 2006 page N16 the now "infamous" case about Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang quoting Bakri Musa's call to the Prime Minister to step down, now!

The news item did not do justice to what Bakri and Kit Siang said, I'm sure, knowing the MSM coverage of news not glowing of the Administration, what more the Prime Minister. So today I'm reproducing the said article in FULL and then like a surgeon, I'm dissecting it bit by byte in an academic exercise to provide a counterpoint (but based on my convictions), as well as ask aloud a variant of what I posed the day before: Who Started A-Joke?


Article by BAKRI MUSA
September 3rd, 2006

The Original by the US-based surgeon author is in BOLD, thus.
Desi's comments are in italics, para by para, thus.

Undur lah, Pak Lah!
(Step Down, Pak Lah!)


Few images could match the pathos of a man struggling to keep his head above water as he is drowning. A more tragic scene would be seeing a Mongoloid child quietly slipping underwater, oblivious of the mortal danger he is in as he sinks down, grinning. No intimations of fear or helplessness; a few moments later he would be found lifeless at the bottom of the pond.

Desi: Mr Elegant Silence, aka Mr Nice Guy, is an apt descritpion of our nation's CEO helming the ship called Malaysia for almost three years now. Drowning? Far from it. The ship is afloat and Pak Lah remains at the steering wheel. The comparison with a Mongoloid child, my esteemed doctor fellow scribe, is a mite too drastic, isn't it, as Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi still talks coherently, maybe not as fiery as former DPM Anwar Ibrahim, or as charismatically as former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

This is the image Prime Minister Abdullah currently projects, and it is not far from the reality. He is way above his head, and is blissfully unaware of it. He still maintains the “elegant silence” of a Pak Bisu (the lovable deaf-mute uncle), and a “What? Me Worry?” grin of Mad Magazine’s Alfred Neuman.

Desi: So also the image of a spiritual person, who seeks the peace within, gives Pak Lah an image of an elder in the mould of a wise leader. He does not raise the crowd's temperatures, but why should NegaraKu expect such leadership? Isn't the racist cacophony of sound and fury emiting out of the PWTC Great Hall sufficient for entertainment? Hey, leading NegaraKu is serious business; Mad magazine is good for writers who think they can be seriously taken by such childish picture painting of others. Maybe Desiderata can be compared with the Madcap at Tanjung Rambutan for writing this piece spontaneously,but with fruity passion, Dr Bakri?

He is sinking fast, and he does not know it. He is also taking his party and the nation down with him. Unfortunately, it is not within our culture for those closest to him to warn him of the impending disaster, much less to rescue the poor soul. On the contrary, they would continue to shield him from the harsh reality, all the way down to the bottom of the pond. They are more interested in protecting their own interests rather than in saving the man or the nation.

Desi: NegaraKu is very much alive and kicking. The RM40billion a year allocations under the 9th Malaysia Plan was a good start. The just announced RM160billion Budget is a sweetener. Remember, the economic hard times upon us is not unique to Malaysia. The world's economic landscape is undergoing convulsions. Even Japan has not been able to come to grips with its plateau-ing economy for the past 10 years. Bank deposit rates are almost at zero percent.

Undur lah, Pak Lah! Step down, Pak Lah! Spare your party, race and the nation you love needless grief.

Desi: And why should Pak Lah heed your lone ranger's call to step down? Are you saying the parliamentary process we have been observing all these years is not working for dear Malaysia, except for some traumatic times when the Constitution was suspended, along with the then Parliament, and we experienced an imposed Rule by a National Operations Council under the leadership of (the late) Tun Abdul Razak?

It would be presumptuous of me to suggest that you might also be sparing yourself, your loved ones, and those closest to you. That is not for me to say.

Desi: Indeed, I would say you're presumptious!


Right Decision; Right Timing; Right Reason

By stepping down now, Abdullah would be making the one right decision at the right time and for all the right reasons, something that has sorely eluded him since becoming Prime Minister.

Desi: wrong Decision; Stupid Timing; Moronic Reason

By stepping down now, he's guilty of dereliction and abdication of duty of the highest order to the Office to which he was duly elected following the March 2004 General Elections. Are you aware, Dr Bakri, that you are calling on the nation's CEO to subvert the choice of the Rakyat?



This would be an appropriate time for him to announce his resignation, to be effective following the election of a new leader at UMNO’s forthcoming annual convention in November. Doing so now would spare his party and the nation the endless distractions of a leadership tussle. With Ramadan coming up, there will be only a few weeks for the members to focus on electing their leader. The restraining influence of that holy month would curtail the more blatant “money politics” that has plagued UMNO. That would help ensure a clean election; at least I hope so.


Desi: As far as I know, Pak Lah was elected to be the prime minister of the whole country called Malaysia, was it not, Dr Bakri? So why should the duly elected nation's head of government pay heed just to a minor section of the people under an umbrella called UMNO? AS far as I know, this year's UMNO Assembly did not have scheduled elections, so why subject the UMNO President to special treatment? (Or is it subversion?) What clean elections are you talking about? It's the same members largely, the same era (of less than three years since the last tainted party elections when the senior most elected Vice President had to resign because of "money politics".) Anyway, Dr Bakri, to my mind, I don't think you are even an UMNO delegate unless you are specially appointed in absentia?

Were Abdullah to reveal his stubborn streak and hang on however tenuously, rest assured that the party and nation would be consumed by the leadership brawl. Forget about the Ninth Malaysia Plan, economic growth, or even plain normalcy. Even if Abdullah were to survive (a very big “if”), it would be a hollow victory. He, the party, Malays, and Malaysia would have been senselessly and irreparably battered in the process.

Desi: Who indeed are the Other protagonists involved in the leadership brawl? Are you, Dr Bakri, fighting on behalf of the previous PM who had alreay served 22 years, and still suffered from insufficiency of prewsidential food and power? Remember, Tun Dr Mahathir did say even if he had won by a "single vote" (in the contest involving arch rival Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah), it would have been still a victory, and he would remain UMNO President? (Fact is Dr Mahathir won by 43 votes.)
Or is a section of Malaysians conveniently enjoying selective memory recall, or suffering piecemeal memory retention?

Clinging on would only make him look even more pathetic and helpless than he is already now. Please spare us the sorry sight!

Desi: Beauty, and its opposite, Ugliness, lies in the eye of the beholder, Dr Bakri?

I trust the collective wisdom of UMNO members to select Abdullah’s worthy successor. They have been through the exercise many times before. When Datuk Onn left the party in a huff, sulking because the members would not do his bidding, they demonstrated great judgment in picking the hitherto unknown and colorless civil servant, Tunku Abdul Rahman. It was a prescient choice for later he would lead the nation to Merdeka. In contrast, the daring, brilliant and charismatic Datuk Onn was content to remain in the false security of the colonial cocoon.

Desi: Selecting an UMNO past incident to justify a subversion of a duly elected UMNO President (also Malaysia's Prime Minister, an anachronism thrust on us reluctant Malaysians who are non-UMNO members!) some 50 years later does not speak much about Malaysia's march towards democratic practice. A subversion remains an aberration, however good Dr Bakri's and like-minded UMNO supporters' intentions. May I also remind that "The path to hell is paved with good intentions".(Samuel Johnson?)

Similarly later when the Tunku was enjoying himself too much in being the “world’s happiest Prime Minister” while the nation was fracturing, UMNO members again asserted themselves. That famous genuflecting letter to Tunku from Dr. Mahathir may be from one person, but not its sentiment.

Desi: Oh, Dr Mahathir, now we discern some intimation/motivation as to the origin of this A-Joke? (Maybe the present deputy Prime Minister is smiling in the wings of the PWTC STage?This "Thinking Allowed" is a continuation of my Narration of the EPIC PLAY for which I had completed Two Acts, and I indicated the PLay continues...)

Granted, the UMNO of today is a far cry from its earlier being; it is now corrupted to its core. The rot accelerated when Anwar Ibrahim introduced the party and its members to “modern” forms of campaigning, as with “money politics.” It was only through outright corruption and blatant bribery, condoned by the party’s senior leaders, was Anwar successful in dislodging Ghaffar Baba as Deputy President and thus, Deputy Prime Minister. However, as we Muslims would observe, Allah has His Ways; nothing happens without His Will.

Desi: It is convenient to step on a past DPM when he's almost 90% down, and he becomes a convenient mat, does he not? I used to hold your writings in high esteem; I was praying I was reading your piece on April 1, 2007. But I woke up this afternoon from a snooze (April 5), it said Tuesday, so Desi was not living in a world of his own. I don't know how the calendar in the USA reads the date and day, year as you wrote your article?

Today money politics is entrenched; it seems futile to have faith in UMNO’s ability to make wise decisions, uncorrupted by money and influence peddling. Examine the last leadership convention, and that was with the two top positions not contested. Imagine the ugly tussles and ensuing gross corruptions had both positions been vacant.


Desi: I second and endorse 100% this said paragraph. God willing, I hope I can agree with you more, henceforth.

There is some reason to hope that this time it would be different, if Abdullah were to resign now. With the restraining influence of Ramadan and Hari Raya, as well as the short notice, there would not be a prolonged disruptive and acrimonious campaign. There would be corresponding less time for intrigue and bribery. It takes time to form alliances and to engage in backstabbing.

Desi: The right and proper thing to do for anyone or party to see a change in the nation's leadership is bide your time. Miss Patience, I often aver here, is also Virtuous. Wait for the next General Elections -- we have not long to go,the most 2-1/2 years. Likely to be A shorter wait -- GE2007/08?

This may well be the only opportunity for the party to have a relatively honest election, and for its members to express freely their collective wisdom. This may also be the only chance the party has to cleanse its leadership, and thus itself.

Desi: I seem to detect some contradiction from the foregoing paragraPH where I endorsed your view 100%. Well, one can always hope that a Leopard can change its spots through wistful thinking. But I doubt.

If Abdullah does not seize this rare opportunity and instead succumb to the flatteries of his courtiers, rest assured that the party and nation would needlessly be distracted until he is out. Not a pretty prospect, for him, the party, and the nation.

Contrary to Abdullah’s perception, Mahathir is not the problem; silencing him would not be the solution. Mahathir is getting wide hearing not because he is the former Prime Minister (although that is a factor), rather the issues he raises resonate with the citizens.

Desi: Mahathir is now plain citizen Joe, like you and me. Why do you wish to be proxy to his thoughts and battles? He has served as PM for 22 years. Was that too short a tenure to prove himself?



Undoing Mahathir’s Legacy

If Abdullah were intent on undoing Mahathir’s legacy, as Abdullah’s many interlocutors seemed to convey, then stepping down now would do it. He would have effectively broken UMNO’s ill-advised “tradition” of not contesting the two top positions. This presumes that Najib would contest the top slot with Abdullah’s withdrawal, and thus automatically vacate his Deputy President post. There is nothing to indicate that he would not do so.

Desi: Righting the wrongs inherited from Mahathir'S era?

Undoing, Dr Bakri, how?
The old regime brought all the FOUR ESTATES to their knees.
An Omnipotent Executive.
A Subservient Legislature.
An Emasculated Judiciary.
The Media -- the Fourth Esate, is another A-Joke.

It was just over two years ago that Abdullah received an overwhelming mandate from the people. He has not committed any egregious deeds, which would be the usual reason in calling for a resignation. On the contrary, he has done a few things right; that is to say, I agree with those decisions.

Desi: Now you're talking some sense. Acknowledgements. I endorse again your observations.

That is precisely Abdullah’s problem. Even when he did the rare right thing, as with trimming the budget deficit, canceling that silly crooked bridge, and reducing the petroleum subsidy, his timing was off and or his reasoning flawed.

Desi: Right things -- but "timing" and "reason" were off. Dr Bakri, spare us the semantics. I thought you were of better mettle!

It was pathetic and painful to see his ministers and other defenders going through contortions to justify canceling that bridge. As for the timing, the penalty payments may yet exceed the cost had the boondoggle been built!

Desi: Take note that many of these Cabinet members were inherited old baggage. I completely agree they are encumbrances. Ostriches around the PM's neck. But thanks to his prececessor's choice in the first place, and a BN system totally out of gear with changing times. You can't deny the MCA president from a Minister's post, can you? Or even a stubborn, semi-valued one of a party lagging merrily behind other communities, or lumbering? Unless a neighbbouring country does us a favour to block a crook via court proceedings, yes?

As for Abdullah’s overwhelming mandate of 2004, do not read too much into it. Malaysians are by nature generous and forgiving of our leaders, at least the first time around. When Tunku took over from the towering Datuk Onn, Tunku’s Alliance Party won all but one of the 52 seats. Datuk Onn scrapped through with the only one seat.

Desi: Yes, first time around, the "feel good" factor and generous of spirit. So don't give your Report Card until the next term, which means another 7-10 years for Pak Lah to deliver. If earlier PMs were given more than one term, why not Pak Lah? To me, it's premature to give a verdict on the current PM's performance. I think besides "generosity", two other Malaysian virtues are patience and fair play.

This was not because Malaysians were mudah lupa (easily forgetting) or being ungrateful to Datuk Onn for his great service in establishing UMNO and saving the nation from becoming a dominion. Rather, Malaysians prefer giving their new leaders a rousing start and a generous chance.

Desi: That's one interpretation. I have mine, but it's not important.It doesn't have much bearing on your call on Pak Lah to resign, immediately. I suggest you revive that call seven years from now?

Resigning the prime ministership is quite the tradition in Malaysia. Chalk one up for the nation! Tunku did it temporarily to concentrate running his campaign in 1959. A decade later the Tunku missed the subtle Malay signals and was more or less forced out, albeit civilly and with decorum in 1970. Hussein did it gracefully in 1981, without prompting, when he found himself overwhelmed.

Desi: Your reading of what happened to Tunku in 1969 could elicit many opposing acounts, but I'm no historian. My suspicion was that someone seized the opportunity to "subvert" the then duly-elected Prime Minister, then declared "Emergency rule" -- a dark period in Negarku which as a citizen, I'm not proud of. Are some quarters working towards a repeat? God forbid.

Fast-forward to today, Hussein Onn is fondly remembered despite his forgettable tenure. In contrast, during the recent celebration of Merdeka’s 49th anniversary, few recalled the Tunku’s pivotal leadership in that fateful event.

Desi: Another facet of historical reccall which may beg a different take. Even among my Blogging mates like Anak Merdeka, Howsy and Mave SM, we could end up with four different opinions. See the wisdom of Seven Blind Men and their Pet Elephant?

Mahathir made it clear that he now deeply regrets anointing Abdullah as his successor. That point is irrelevant. By resigning now and simultaneously opening up the nomination process by letting anyone to participate by doing away with the onerous branch nomination requirements, Abdullah would reduce the corrupting influence of money politics and help ensure getting the best candidates. Let the membership decide who are serious and who are frivolous candidates. By resigning now, Abdullah would also ensure that the next generation of leaders would truly be the choice of the membership. That is a legacy that even Mahathir could not match. That is also the one enduring legacy worth leaving.

Desi: Dr Mahathir when faced with potential rivals to the UMNO throne, changed the party's Constitution to gain an incumbent's advantage. Dr Bakri, You mean Pak Lah should surrender the advantages of incumbency? Is there a saint among politicians? I'd gladly give up my life to meet up with one.
Then I'd like to become his disciple. Serious.



Undur lah, Pak Lah!

Desi,: Pak Lah, Don't give up. Many Malaysians are behind you. Just that you need to act -- more decisively and now!


Special Note by Desiderata:

I had written the above article mainly as a writer-journalist in the best interest of My Country. I have been an Opposition supporter in my political journey, and I'm not ashamed to publicly decalre I had always voted Opposition in all General Elections to date.

But I also respect due process that once Parliamentary Elections has been properly conducted, and the Government duly constituted, I must respect the Office of the Prime Minister, though I don't hold much respect for some of the members in the current Cabinet. Just as I expect the Government to uphold the Rule Of Law. And restore and respect Judicial Independence. I also would support any Opposition or NGO efforts to practise "Civil Disobedience" such as protesting over fuel price hikes in peaceful, public rallies if the Government imposes hardships and sufferings on the citizenry. As indeed, I had taken part in some demonstrations as a concerned citizen. I write this note to dispel some potential quarters (I have had APs visiting Desi's Blog) levelling at Desi being a Government apologist. I go chiefly by THE ISSUES, not so much the Protagonists involved, though the Players are important too. Desi