Andrew Sia
COMMENT | Imagine if “Tun” died, say at the ripe old age of 108. Political leaders of all sides gush with praise about what a great guy he was. Suddenly, all his past misdeeds are forgotten.
This is what’s happening with another recently deceased Tun from Sarawak.
It is said that we should not “speak ill of the dead”. But does that mean that anybody who has been suspected of massive corruption will automatically have his reputation whitewashed by death?
Yes, we should acknowledge the good that leaders did in their lives. But how can we as a country improve if we don’t at least acknowledge their past mistakes or wrongs?
A Tun-ship is the highest honour a Malaysian can ever receive. So, we should expect the very highest standards from those who hold these titles.
While the Sarawak Report news portal was praised for exposing our world-famous 1MDB kleptocrat, why have its multiple allegations against the late Abdul Taib Mahmud been ignored by the system?
Sarawak 3rd-poorest
It is true that during Taib’s long tenure as chief minister from 1981 to 2014, Sarawak saw much development. Its extensive forests were logged before turning them into oil palm plantations. The highly controversial mega Bakun dam was pushed through while 10,000 natives were pushed off into depressing “resettlement schemes”.
But who reaped the main benefits? Ordinary people or the elite? The elite who now sing posthumous accolades and acclaims of Taib?
Despite the state’s immense natural wealth, Sarawak remains the third-poorest state according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
Why do so many longhouse communities block roads to defend their legal claims on Native Customary Rights (NCR) land against loggers and oil palm companies?
COMMENT | Imagine if “Tun” died, say at the ripe old age of 108. Political leaders of all sides gush with praise about what a great guy he was. Suddenly, all his past misdeeds are forgotten.
This is what’s happening with another recently deceased Tun from Sarawak.
It is said that we should not “speak ill of the dead”. But does that mean that anybody who has been suspected of massive corruption will automatically have his reputation whitewashed by death?
Yes, we should acknowledge the good that leaders did in their lives. But how can we as a country improve if we don’t at least acknowledge their past mistakes or wrongs?
A Tun-ship is the highest honour a Malaysian can ever receive. So, we should expect the very highest standards from those who hold these titles.
While the Sarawak Report news portal was praised for exposing our world-famous 1MDB kleptocrat, why have its multiple allegations against the late Abdul Taib Mahmud been ignored by the system?
Sarawak 3rd-poorest
It is true that during Taib’s long tenure as chief minister from 1981 to 2014, Sarawak saw much development. Its extensive forests were logged before turning them into oil palm plantations. The highly controversial mega Bakun dam was pushed through while 10,000 natives were pushed off into depressing “resettlement schemes”.
But who reaped the main benefits? Ordinary people or the elite? The elite who now sing posthumous accolades and acclaims of Taib?
Despite the state’s immense natural wealth, Sarawak remains the third-poorest state according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia.
Why do so many longhouse communities block roads to defend their legal claims on Native Customary Rights (NCR) land against loggers and oil palm companies?
Orang Asli activists manning a roadblock in Gerik, Perak
Sure, some land needs to be developed, but shouldn’t profits be shared with the community that owns it?
As activist Kua Kia Soong once described it, it was akin to driving the natives out of their NCR lands so that they could be “freed” to become workers struggling to earn wages. In other words, from landowners to landless labourers.
Ironically, NCR was first recognised by the British White Rajahs. But they were eroded after “Merdeka”, especially by the “white-haired Rajah”, which was Taib’s nickname.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself said it best in December 2021 when campaigning in the state elections. He asked why Sarawak’s poorest voters like to kiss the hands of politicians who have left them in poverty. Now, he calls Taib a “respected statesman”.
Be fair, don’t bodek
Some say this is not “the right time” to discuss this. So when is it appropriate? Months later when Taib has faded from memory?
This is exactly what happens after every mass shooting in the United States. Oh, we should stick to mourning the victims because this is “not the time” to discuss gun control. And then the issue is forgotten… until the next mass shooting.
I’m not saying that dubious Tuns deserve only scorn, but a chorus of pure praise is distasteful and embarrassing.
It smacks of cover-ups, of sweeping things under the “perMadani” carpet. Is a fair and balanced assessment of both the good and bad points of departed VVIPs asking too much?
One example of this is the obituary of long-time MIC president, Samy Vellu, written by former DAP leader P Ramasamy within days of his passing.
Sure, some land needs to be developed, but shouldn’t profits be shared with the community that owns it?
As activist Kua Kia Soong once described it, it was akin to driving the natives out of their NCR lands so that they could be “freed” to become workers struggling to earn wages. In other words, from landowners to landless labourers.
Ironically, NCR was first recognised by the British White Rajahs. But they were eroded after “Merdeka”, especially by the “white-haired Rajah”, which was Taib’s nickname.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself said it best in December 2021 when campaigning in the state elections. He asked why Sarawak’s poorest voters like to kiss the hands of politicians who have left them in poverty. Now, he calls Taib a “respected statesman”.
Be fair, don’t bodek
Some say this is not “the right time” to discuss this. So when is it appropriate? Months later when Taib has faded from memory?
This is exactly what happens after every mass shooting in the United States. Oh, we should stick to mourning the victims because this is “not the time” to discuss gun control. And then the issue is forgotten… until the next mass shooting.
I’m not saying that dubious Tuns deserve only scorn, but a chorus of pure praise is distasteful and embarrassing.
It smacks of cover-ups, of sweeping things under the “perMadani” carpet. Is a fair and balanced assessment of both the good and bad points of departed VVIPs asking too much?
One example of this is the obituary of long-time MIC president, Samy Vellu, written by former DAP leader P Ramasamy within days of his passing.
Former MIC president Samy Vellu
He acknowledged that friends called him a “legend” who was lauded for his contributions to the Indian community.
But Ramasamy also noted that Samy ran MIC as an autocratic “one-man show” while being subservient to Umno. It was his failure to address many problems of Indians that ultimately led them to abandon the party.
Can we have a similarly honest look at Taib’s life?
Bootlicking is our culture
Malaysia has an ugly habit of kowtowing to those with power and titles. People still rushed to kiss the hand of our world-famous kleptocrat Najib Abdul Razak even after he was convicted.
It was disturbing to see a police officer doing this in August 2022. Aren’t the police supposed to uphold the law and be “tegas” (firm, uncompromising) with criminals?
Artist Fahmi Reza portrayed this act with the caption: “Cash is king - Mengampu adalah budaya kita” (Bootlicking is our culture).
He acknowledged that friends called him a “legend” who was lauded for his contributions to the Indian community.
But Ramasamy also noted that Samy ran MIC as an autocratic “one-man show” while being subservient to Umno. It was his failure to address many problems of Indians that ultimately led them to abandon the party.
Can we have a similarly honest look at Taib’s life?
Bootlicking is our culture
Malaysia has an ugly habit of kowtowing to those with power and titles. People still rushed to kiss the hand of our world-famous kleptocrat Najib Abdul Razak even after he was convicted.
It was disturbing to see a police officer doing this in August 2022. Aren’t the police supposed to uphold the law and be “tegas” (firm, uncompromising) with criminals?
Artist Fahmi Reza portrayed this act with the caption: “Cash is king - Mengampu adalah budaya kita” (Bootlicking is our culture).
Najib still has multiple Datuk-ships from various states despite being convicted of corruption. Only Negeri Sembilan (in 2018), Selangor, and Penang (both in 2022) have stripped him of his Datuk titles.
Malaysia has a feudal mindset where politicians are treated like royal lords and dukes. That’s why even convicted politicians are still venerated as “Malu Apa Bossku” (Nothing to be ashamed of, he’s my boss).
Other dubious Tuns
If this is how corrupt Datuks are treated, how about Tuns?
In 2009, Mohd Ali Rustam was barred from contesting the Umno deputy president post as he was accused by his own party of money politics (buying delegates’ votes).
But he was allowed to remain as Malacca chief minister. Even better, in 2020, he rose to become the state’s governor and was even given the title of Tun!
Former MCA president and transport minister Ling Liong Sik was the first Tun to be charged in court. He was accused of cheating the government over the multi-billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project but was acquitted by the court.
This led people to comment that this major crime involving RM720 million of public money had “no criminals”.
Daim Zainuddin and Mahathir
Then comes Daim Zainuddin, the financial lieutenant of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In 2001, Lim Kit Siang asked if Daim was involved in the bailout of TimedotCom, which cost taxpayers half a billion ringgit.
Daim also approved the government buying back tycoon Tajudin Ramli’s stake in Malaysia Airlines at over DOUBLE the market value. That cost taxpayers RM1.79 billion.
Currently, the MACC is probing Daim for links to hundreds of millions stashed away in offshore trust funds.
What about the old man, Mahathir, who is often simply called “Tun”? I don’t want to talk too much about him. But prominent economist Jomo Kwame Sundaram recently summed up his economic legacy as turning privatisation into “crony privatisation”. Some even call it “pirate-isation”.
Daim Zainuddin and Mahathir Mohamad
Luckily, the old man is still alive, so, we are still “allowed” to criticise him.
The list of Tuns in Malaysia is quite long. I’d like to believe most have contributed to the country without major question marks.
There are many Tuns with sterling reputations. There is former civil service chief Ahmad Sarji and retired inspector-general of police Mohd Hanif Omar.
Other exemplary Tuns include former chief judges Mohamed Salleh Abas and Mohd Dzaiddin Abdullah. Dr Lim Chong Eu is credited with turning sleepy Penang into an industrial powerhouse.
And Dr Ismail Abd Rahman, the “reluctant politician” was probably the best prime minister we almost had.
But the few tainted Tuns we had smear the integrity of the country’s highest award, unfairly affecting many others who hold this august title.
Honour them where it’s due but please do not ignore or sugarcoat their faults – even if they have passed away.
Otherwise, we will never learn from our history.
ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com
Luckily, the old man is still alive, so, we are still “allowed” to criticise him.
The list of Tuns in Malaysia is quite long. I’d like to believe most have contributed to the country without major question marks.
There are many Tuns with sterling reputations. There is former civil service chief Ahmad Sarji and retired inspector-general of police Mohd Hanif Omar.
Other exemplary Tuns include former chief judges Mohamed Salleh Abas and Mohd Dzaiddin Abdullah. Dr Lim Chong Eu is credited with turning sleepy Penang into an industrial powerhouse.
And Dr Ismail Abd Rahman, the “reluctant politician” was probably the best prime minister we almost had.
But the few tainted Tuns we had smear the integrity of the country’s highest award, unfairly affecting many others who hold this august title.
Honour them where it’s due but please do not ignore or sugarcoat their faults – even if they have passed away.
Otherwise, we will never learn from our history.
ANDREW SIA is a veteran journalist who likes teh tarik khau kurang manis. You are welcome to give him ideas to brew at tehtarik@gmail.com
Why?
ReplyDeleteTo instill a sense of being (melayu powerless) aka those f*cked epitaphs that r being glorified within the Jap Yasukuni Shrine!