“Whether PMX harbours personal vendetta against Tun M or not, he’s just a PM, never a saint”
By Nehru Sathiamoorthy
IN 2022, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of world politics.
At the height of the Asian Financial Crisis (AFC) in 1998, the differences of opinion that Anwar who was then the deputy prime minister (DPM) at the time had with Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had resulted in the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman not only getting fired but getting thrown into jail for the charges of committing sodomy and corruption.
The widely publicised sodomy charges and ensuing trial humiliated Anwar in front of the whole country and possibly the entire world.
Despite the humiliation, Anwar’s relentless attempt to recoup all that he had lost, was finally rewarded in November 2022 when he was installed as Malaysia’s 10th Prime Minister (PMX).
Tilam Tahun 1998 ada sesiapa beminat tak. Ni zaman Tun M punya Tilam
In 2025 which is more than a quarter of a century later, Anwar looks like he is finally ready to settle the score with his mentor-turned-nemesis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Recently, the findings of the Batu Puteh Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the handling of sovereignty issues involving Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge has proposed that a criminal investigation be brought against former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Anwar himself has insinuated that he is going to take down the twice former premier premier with an allegation of treachery for the manner that the latter handled the Batu Puteh issue which resulted in Malaysia losing its territory to Singapore.
The allegation that Dr Mahathir has betrayed the country to Singapore is largely seen as farcical in Malaysia. The one year short of a centenarian has a reputation of being a fierce ultra-nationalist who was especially combative in his dealings with Singapore throughout his career.
Ultimate revenge
That Anwar deserves to have his vengeance against Dr Mahathir for the manner that the latter had humiliated him in the late 1990s is also a matter that has a universal consensus in Malaysia.
This is despite Anwar having publicly proclaimed that the treachery charges that are being prepared against Dr Mahathir are ‘pure’ business as opposed to personal vendetta.
According to Anwar, he has no interest to have his vengeance against Dr Mahathir. He just feels that as Maalysia’s PM, he has a responsibility to address the country’s loss of territory to Singapore.
Anwar, however, is a PM and not a saint.
Considering how Dr Mahathir had degraded Anwar’s reputation and legacy – all of which are of paramount importance for a prince of politics like Anwar – if the 99 years-old Dr Mahathir is found guilty of treachery in 2025, it will be Anwar’s vengeance as opposed to Dr Mahathir’s guilt that the outcome will be attributed to.
At least, such perception will prevail for a long while in the court of public opinion, – Dec 18, 2024
That Anwar deserves to have his vengeance against Dr Mahathir for the manner that the latter had humiliated him in the late 1990s is also a matter that has a universal consensus in Malaysia.
This is despite Anwar having publicly proclaimed that the treachery charges that are being prepared against Dr Mahathir are ‘pure’ business as opposed to personal vendetta.
According to Anwar, he has no interest to have his vengeance against Dr Mahathir. He just feels that as Maalysia’s PM, he has a responsibility to address the country’s loss of territory to Singapore.
Anwar, however, is a PM and not a saint.
Considering how Dr Mahathir had degraded Anwar’s reputation and legacy – all of which are of paramount importance for a prince of politics like Anwar – if the 99 years-old Dr Mahathir is found guilty of treachery in 2025, it will be Anwar’s vengeance as opposed to Dr Mahathir’s guilt that the outcome will be attributed to.
At least, such perception will prevail for a long while in the court of public opinion, – Dec 18, 2024
Nehru Sathiamoorthy is a roving tutor who loves politics, philosophy and psychology.
No comments:
Post a Comment