Judge, 0 you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him.
That was the most unkindest cut of all.
- Julius Caesar: Act 3, Scene 2 - William Shakespeare
The much loved Malay legend of Hang Tuah saw 5 mighty warriors who were blood brothers, defending their kingdom. One of the 5 was Hang Jebat, traditionally viewed as the rebel, the traitor, the renegade.
When the Royal Malaysian Navy first bought two frigates one was name KD Hang Tuah, whilst the other KD Rahmat instead of Hang Jebat. Malaysia’s first PM, Tunku Abdul Rahman, a staunch monarchist, wouldn’t countenance the very thought of a rebel being honoured with his name adopted by a kapal diraja (Royal Malaysian Navy ship).
But modern historians and Malay literary figure such as Kassim Ahmad saw Hang Jebat as the steadfast loyal friend, who protected Hang Tuah’s honour when the latter was forced to hide from the tyrannical Sultan’s wrath. Jebat was a man who was honourable and loyal to his brethren-in-arms even against the highest authority. To them Hang Tuah was the betrayer of his friend's loyalty, a blind sycophant to the tyrannical ruler.
In an outcome worthy of a Greek tragedy, Jebat was eventually killed by the very man he loved and whose honour he defended. Ironically Tuah killed Jebat on the orders of the very Sultan who had wanted to kill Tuah in the first place.
Malays love the characteristic of loyalty - so they claimed.
Last night in Kubang Pasu, in a ‘special’ meeting for UMNO delegates with the division leader, three former loyalist of Dr Mahathir called on branch delegates not to vote for the former PM.
Loyalist No 1
Former Kedah Menteri Besar Osman Aroff, for whom Dr Mahathir had created a special post when Osman was ousted as the state MB, told delegates in his speech that Mahathir had a track record of causing disarray in UMNO and thus should be rejected as a delegate.
He said: “We must remember it was because of Dr Mahathir that Umno was de-registered in 1987. It was also he, who chose to fight with his deputy (Anwar Ibrahim) in 1998. Such is Mahathir's record.”
Osman averred that if the delegates elect Mahathir to represent them, it would indicate that UMNO Kubang Pasu was against Abdullah.
Nice touch, by alluding to possible disloyalty to AAB through an act of ...?
Loyalist No 2
Kubang Pasu chief Johari Baharom, who was handpicked by Mahathir to become the division’s chief, said: “Tun Dr Mahathir is no longer suitable because of his advanced age. So I ask of everyone present here, don't vote for Tun tomorrow.”
“(Don’t) doubt, even for a second, that Mahathir's admission into the halls (of the Umno general assembly) would bring shame and embarassment to Umno.”
How cruel - "... no longer suitable because of his advanced age ..." - or, rather, how low!
Then, like Khairy Jamaluddin, he threw in a bit about the other races: “Just imagine, Mahathir sitting there with the other delegates, with a teacher, with Johari ... Don't doubt for a moment that we would not be looked down on by other parties, by MCA, by MIC, by Gerakan ...”
Just for safe measure, Johari also did a bit of religious reminder cum apple polishing, by praising AAB for having brought development and fulfilled requests of the people of Kubang Pasu.
He said: “I requested that the Changloon mosque be constructed, Pak Lah did so. I requested for a mosque at Jitra, he did so. What more would we ask for?”
How about a bit of loyalty for Dr Mahathir?
Loyalist No 3
Dr Mahathir's former political secretary Saad Man did the reverse psychology part. He said that electing Dr Mahathir as a representative of the Kubang Pasu delegates would bring disrepute to Mahathir.
Well, are these three Hang Tuahs or Hang Jebats?
Related:
No Hang Tuah for Dr Mahathir
When the Royal Malaysian Navy first bought two frigates one was name KD Hang Tuah, whilst the other KD Rahmat instead of Hang Jebat. Malaysia’s first PM, Tunku Abdul Rahman, a staunch monarchist, wouldn’t countenance the very thought of a rebel being honoured with his name adopted by a kapal diraja (Royal Malaysian Navy ship).
But modern historians and Malay literary figure such as Kassim Ahmad saw Hang Jebat as the steadfast loyal friend, who protected Hang Tuah’s honour when the latter was forced to hide from the tyrannical Sultan’s wrath. Jebat was a man who was honourable and loyal to his brethren-in-arms even against the highest authority. To them Hang Tuah was the betrayer of his friend's loyalty, a blind sycophant to the tyrannical ruler.
In an outcome worthy of a Greek tragedy, Jebat was eventually killed by the very man he loved and whose honour he defended. Ironically Tuah killed Jebat on the orders of the very Sultan who had wanted to kill Tuah in the first place.
Malays love the characteristic of loyalty - so they claimed.
Last night in Kubang Pasu, in a ‘special’ meeting for UMNO delegates with the division leader, three former loyalist of Dr Mahathir called on branch delegates not to vote for the former PM.
Loyalist No 1
Former Kedah Menteri Besar Osman Aroff, for whom Dr Mahathir had created a special post when Osman was ousted as the state MB, told delegates in his speech that Mahathir had a track record of causing disarray in UMNO and thus should be rejected as a delegate.
He said: “We must remember it was because of Dr Mahathir that Umno was de-registered in 1987. It was also he, who chose to fight with his deputy (Anwar Ibrahim) in 1998. Such is Mahathir's record.”
Osman averred that if the delegates elect Mahathir to represent them, it would indicate that UMNO Kubang Pasu was against Abdullah.
Nice touch, by alluding to possible disloyalty to AAB through an act of ...?
Loyalist No 2
Kubang Pasu chief Johari Baharom, who was handpicked by Mahathir to become the division’s chief, said: “Tun Dr Mahathir is no longer suitable because of his advanced age. So I ask of everyone present here, don't vote for Tun tomorrow.”
“(Don’t) doubt, even for a second, that Mahathir's admission into the halls (of the Umno general assembly) would bring shame and embarassment to Umno.”
How cruel - "... no longer suitable because of his advanced age ..." - or, rather, how low!
Then, like Khairy Jamaluddin, he threw in a bit about the other races: “Just imagine, Mahathir sitting there with the other delegates, with a teacher, with Johari ... Don't doubt for a moment that we would not be looked down on by other parties, by MCA, by MIC, by Gerakan ...”
Just for safe measure, Johari also did a bit of religious reminder cum apple polishing, by praising AAB for having brought development and fulfilled requests of the people of Kubang Pasu.
He said: “I requested that the Changloon mosque be constructed, Pak Lah did so. I requested for a mosque at Jitra, he did so. What more would we ask for?”
How about a bit of loyalty for Dr Mahathir?
Loyalist No 3
Dr Mahathir's former political secretary Saad Man did the reverse psychology part. He said that electing Dr Mahathir as a representative of the Kubang Pasu delegates would bring disrepute to Mahathir.
Well, are these three Hang Tuahs or Hang Jebats?
Related:
No Hang Tuah for Dr Mahathir
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