On Mahathir the brilliant, multi-talented leader who played racial games
The many sides of Mahathir Mohamad, as seen by former diplomat Dennis Ignatius in a new book.
PETALING JAYA: Brilliant, multi-talented, inquisitive were some of the adjectives a former Malaysian diplomat uses to describe Dr Mahathir Mohamad. But he also played racist games, writes Dennis Ignatius.
In the preface to his book Paradise Lost: Mahathir and the End of Hope, Ignatius said he spent much time with the then prime minister in the course of his long career in the foreign service.
“I met many world leaders and I can honestly say that Mahathir often stood head and shoulders above them all. As a foreign service officer, one could not ask for more in a leader.”
But Mahathir was a man of many sides, Ignatius said. The side that dismayed him the most was Mahathir’s race-based vision for Malaysia.
However, the turning point for Ignatius came with Mahathir’s “unacceptable” treatment of his then deputy Anwar Ibrahim.
Mahathir the person
On a personal level, Mahathir was kind, polite and soft spoken. He never once raised his voice or was rude.
Despite his formidable personality, he never bullied or intimidated those who worked with him, but saved such tactics for his political opponents, Ignatius wrote.
Ignatius said that Mahathir took his meetings seriously, unlike many of his ministers, and was always well prepared, focussed and paid attention to details. He also had an “inquisitive mind that was always ticking over.”
Mahathir’s racial side
Of Mahathir’s many sides, the one that dismayed him the most was Mahathir’s race-based vision for Malaysia.
During Mahathir’s second stint as the prime minister, he thought nothing more of pushing the Malay supremacy agenda.
And while there was nothing wrong in calling for Malay unity, Ignatius was not fond of the kind of unity Mahathir was pushing.
“Premised upon an exclusionary philosophy that sees non-Malays and non-Muslims as enemies to be confronted, controlled and contained. And that can’t be right.”
Mahathir’s vision, he added, consigned non-Malays to an inferior status in their own nation.
Almost everything Mahathir did seemed to be premised upon some racial consideration, Ignatius wrote.
Antipathy towards Anwar
However it was Mahathir’s “unacceptable” treatment of Anwar Ibrahim that became a turning point for Ignatius, despite the fact he was not so enthusiastic about the PKR president.
The treatment of Anwar, he said, brought a great deal of shame and disgrace to Malaysia.
Ignatius’s book, which will be launched on Sept 9, is now available for pre-order. It retails for RM60.
PETALING JAYA: Brilliant, multi-talented, inquisitive were some of the adjectives a former Malaysian diplomat uses to describe Dr Mahathir Mohamad. But he also played racist games, writes Dennis Ignatius.
In the preface to his book Paradise Lost: Mahathir and the End of Hope, Ignatius said he spent much time with the then prime minister in the course of his long career in the foreign service.
“I met many world leaders and I can honestly say that Mahathir often stood head and shoulders above them all. As a foreign service officer, one could not ask for more in a leader.”
But Mahathir was a man of many sides, Ignatius said. The side that dismayed him the most was Mahathir’s race-based vision for Malaysia.
However, the turning point for Ignatius came with Mahathir’s “unacceptable” treatment of his then deputy Anwar Ibrahim.
Mahathir the person
On a personal level, Mahathir was kind, polite and soft spoken. He never once raised his voice or was rude.
Despite his formidable personality, he never bullied or intimidated those who worked with him, but saved such tactics for his political opponents, Ignatius wrote.
Ignatius said that Mahathir took his meetings seriously, unlike many of his ministers, and was always well prepared, focussed and paid attention to details. He also had an “inquisitive mind that was always ticking over.”
Mahathir’s racial side
Of Mahathir’s many sides, the one that dismayed him the most was Mahathir’s race-based vision for Malaysia.
During Mahathir’s second stint as the prime minister, he thought nothing more of pushing the Malay supremacy agenda.
And while there was nothing wrong in calling for Malay unity, Ignatius was not fond of the kind of unity Mahathir was pushing.
“Premised upon an exclusionary philosophy that sees non-Malays and non-Muslims as enemies to be confronted, controlled and contained. And that can’t be right.”
Mahathir’s vision, he added, consigned non-Malays to an inferior status in their own nation.
Almost everything Mahathir did seemed to be premised upon some racial consideration, Ignatius wrote.
Antipathy towards Anwar
However it was Mahathir’s “unacceptable” treatment of Anwar Ibrahim that became a turning point for Ignatius, despite the fact he was not so enthusiastic about the PKR president.
The treatment of Anwar, he said, brought a great deal of shame and disgrace to Malaysia.
Ignatius’s book, which will be launched on Sept 9, is now available for pre-order. It retails for RM60.
Mahathir played racist games.
ReplyDeleteTun Razak played racist games
Sonny Najib played racist games
Pak Lah played racist games.
It's too convenient and ineffective to just zoom in on one person.
It is The UMBO system which is racist and corrupt and must be resisted to end.
That the old buffoon is a through and through racist has never been in doubt.
ReplyDeleteThe old idiot said he is not concerned about his legacy after his death (hopefully soon). This is because he knows there are more Malaysians who loathe him than revere him.
He must have looked with angst and jealousy when the crowds turned up waiting patiently up to 6 hours to pay their respects when LKY passed on.
So when Dennis was a Malaysian diplomat during Toonsie's reign was he a willing Diplomat for a Racist PM and Racist Gomen? Or did he go around telling the foreigners his PM Toonsie was a Racist?
ReplyDeleteLife as a Diplomat was so rewarding. Fat Salary, Housing, Entertainment Allowance, Servants, First Class Air Travel, Overseas Holidays, Children Education in International Schools etc etc.
Or was Dennis an Obedient Civil Servant, and Kwai Kwai Toe The Racist Line while enjoying the Perks?
Only Now Today so Brave? Can Write a Book and Charge RM60 per copy?
QUOTE
(Dennis) served in London, Beijing and Washington and was subsequently appointed ambassador to Chile and later to Argentina. He was also concurrently accredited as Ambassador of Malaysia to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay and Uruguay. From 2001 to June 2008 he was the High Commissioner (ambassador) for Malaysia to Canada.
UNQUOTE