Mahathir's son, Bersatu Pribumi deputy president Mukhriz Mahathir, who is more willing to tackle the past in a frank manner, acknowledged that issues such as patronage had begun to manifest since Mahathir's time and worsened under Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (photo) and Najib.
However, Mukhriz did not blame his father but attributed the problems to circumstances, which he said Mahathir had also expressed worry about when he was prime minister.
He pointed out that Mahathir, in his speech to the Umno general assembly in 1995, had made comments that he found "rather strange".
Worried about Umno's direction
"But now we understand where he was coming from. He said he was worried about where Umno was heading.
"He said he saw that Umno was changing from a party that had members coming from the teaching profession to become a party that has more corporate members.
At the time, Mukhriz said, the transition was not necessarily bad as it was due to the booming economy but there were concerns how it would affect the future.
"Perhaps this was a sign of the times, the economy was doing well, the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) was booming, everyone was making money and there were lots of investments coming to the country.
"He (Mahathir) said this in his speech as if it was a concern of his. He was afraid that this will have a certain impact on the party and that the party will change and maybe lose its identity or principle of struggling for the people."
It was also the same year in which Mahathir had read the poem, ‘Perjuangan Belum Selesai’ (The fight is not over), said Mukhriz.
"I remember really well, even then people were talking about 'what is wrong with this old man? Why is he lamenting when we were all doing well?'. Then, he was breaking down when he was reading this poem.
"Now we see that's exactly what happened. Umno changed into a party that was made up of corporate types who weren't putting the interest of the rakyat ahead of everything but had more self-interest.
"They were going up and down ministries, vying for projects, direct awards, closed tenders, using whatever cable they may have to get projects and contracts and that is what Umno is now," said Mukhriz.
Mukhriz claimed he also witnessed this during his time in Umno Youth.
"I saw it with own eyes in Umno, I was there for quite some time. You can see how people can change.
However, Mukhriz did not blame his father but attributed the problems to circumstances, which he said Mahathir had also expressed worry about when he was prime minister.
He pointed out that Mahathir, in his speech to the Umno general assembly in 1995, had made comments that he found "rather strange".
Worried about Umno's direction
"But now we understand where he was coming from. He said he was worried about where Umno was heading.
"He said he saw that Umno was changing from a party that had members coming from the teaching profession to become a party that has more corporate members.
At the time, Mukhriz said, the transition was not necessarily bad as it was due to the booming economy but there were concerns how it would affect the future.
"Perhaps this was a sign of the times, the economy was doing well, the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) was booming, everyone was making money and there were lots of investments coming to the country.
"He (Mahathir) said this in his speech as if it was a concern of his. He was afraid that this will have a certain impact on the party and that the party will change and maybe lose its identity or principle of struggling for the people."
It was also the same year in which Mahathir had read the poem, ‘Perjuangan Belum Selesai’ (The fight is not over), said Mukhriz.
"I remember really well, even then people were talking about 'what is wrong with this old man? Why is he lamenting when we were all doing well?'. Then, he was breaking down when he was reading this poem.
"Now we see that's exactly what happened. Umno changed into a party that was made up of corporate types who weren't putting the interest of the rakyat ahead of everything but had more self-interest.
"They were going up and down ministries, vying for projects, direct awards, closed tenders, using whatever cable they may have to get projects and contracts and that is what Umno is now," said Mukhriz.
Mukhriz claimed he also witnessed this during his time in Umno Youth.
"I saw it with own eyes in Umno, I was there for quite some time. You can see how people can change.
If so, then why didn't your father do something about it, when he was still PM and at the height of his power, a power so great that he could de-fang the royals, unseat the judiciary and reconstruct the Dewan Senate to his liking?
Why blame his (claimed) two successors?
Wakakakaka……
ReplyDeleteWHY don't u direct the same questions to pinklips?
Kaytee, are you talking about yourself? Blaming anybody and everybody except Najib. Kaytee believes that kaytee tasting najib's dick is good
ReplyDeleteHere are two You Tube videos about the decline of empires which bear similarities with Malaya/Malaysia since shortly before independence until today.
ReplyDeleteThe first is based upon Chinese history and philosophy and the second primarily relates to the U.S. today.
Historical Cycles: Are we doomed to repeat the past?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w6QYPzF2TI
The 7 Signs Of An Empire In Decline
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w6QYPzF2TI
its fair comments, good observation and there are truths in it, kt being who he is obviously cannot take so as usual he has to give his opinions
ReplyDeleteundirosak 1 please yourself 0
This is one of the best write ups I have read on-line about the situation in Malaysia.
ReplyDeletehttps://m.malaysiakini.com/columns/416631
GE14 - last chance for change.
By Dennis Ignatius.