Marhaen Dan Rakyat

It is a moment thick with irony—Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, whose criticisms hastened the political demise of his successor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, now standing solemnly at the National Mosque to pay his final respects. With words of tribute, Mahathir described Abdullah as a leader who secured "one of the most remarkable victories in history" during the 2004 general election and praised his peaceful exit. But let us not rewrite history to suit sentiment. Dr Mahathir, now approaching 100, was once Abdullah's most unrelenting critic. Mahathir's loud and persistent attacks from outside the government sowed dissent within UMNO and the public alike, setting in motion the events that would lead to Abdullah's resignation in 2009. At every turn, Mahathir questioned Abdullah's leadership, direction, and integrity—relentlessly hammering away at the legitimacy of his successor's tenure. And yet today, he praises the very qualities he once disparaged. Abdullah, known...

What should our federation look like? This question came after the Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim called for Johor to be treated as an equal partner of the federation. This is an important question that should be considered, especially by the critics of Tunku Ismail’s statement. Malaysia’s federal system traces back to the peninsula’s pre-colonial era, comprising distinct Malay states ruled by a sultan. British colonisation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries further solidified these divisions by recognising the states as separate legal entities. Despite British attempts at centralisation in the 1930s, strong objections from the Malay rulers prevented complete consolidation. After World War II, pan-Malaya political organisations emerged. In 1946, the British proposed the Malayan Union (MU), which aimed to centralise administration across British Malaya and grant liberal citizenship rights to all residents, including immigrant Chinese and Indians. However, Malay aristocr...

Dalam tempoh dua minggu pertama April, dua pemimpin parti Ikatan Demokratik Malaysia (MUDA) Sabah keluar dari parti berkenaan. Pengerusi MUDA Sabah, Amos Thien Tze Tin meninggalkan parti berkenaan untuk menyertai DAP. Jawatankuasa Eksekutif Pusat merangkap Biro Strategik MUDA, Warence Mudin kemudiannya turut mengumumkan pengundurannya dari parti tersebut. Pengunduran kedua-dua individu terbabit yang memegang jawatan penting dalam MUDA memberi gambaran jelas tentang masa depan MUDA. MUDA kini bukan pilihan golongan muda untuk berjuang membawa suara rakyat di bawah panji parti tersebut. Apakah yang menyebabkan MUDA bukan lagi pilihan golongan muda untuk menyuarakan aspirasi mereka? https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/657742/berita/politik/keahlian-amos-automatik-gugur-muda-sabah-tidak-terjejas https://www.utusan.com.my/berita/2024/04/lagi-pemimpin-muda-keluar-parti-muda-berdepan-krisis/ 'Permusuhan' antara MUDA dan parti lain meruncingkan masalah yang dihadapi oleh mereka. S...

March proved to be a tumultuous month for religious relations in Malaysia, as irresponsible parties attempted to rile up the Malay Muslim base in the holy month of Ramadan, ranging from the canteen for non-Muslims and, most recently, the Allah socks issue. Last week, images of the Miranosock socks bearing the word Allah sold at convenience store chain KK Mart's Bandar Sunway outlet went viral on social media. Following the revelation, KK Mart apologised to its customers and the Muslim community, in particular, for the oversight and stopped selling the product. The sock's supplier, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, had also apologised and said the products were part of a bulk of stocks purchased by mistake from its China-based supplier. Regardless of intent, this is a severe matter for Muslims, as the word "Allah" is revered in every sense of the word. Its careless printing of socks can be seen as an insult and has the potential to be used in an even more irresponsible manner. D...

In the wild world of Malaysian politics, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent crackdown on corruption, specifically targeting former finance bigwig Daim Zainuddin, has caused a stir across political circles. The move, highlighted by the freezing of Daim's family-owned Ilham Tower at the end of 2023, seems like Anwar's way of saying, "No one is too big to be checked." Ilham Tower, a ritzy symbol to the prosperity of Malaysia’s 80-90s and valued at a cool US$580 million, became the center of attention when Daim refused to spill the beans on his assets. For some, Anwar's no-nonsense approach sends a clear message that even the big shots can't escape the spotlight. His current troubles stem from MACC poking around in alleged embezzlement dating back to a 1997 deal involving Renong and United Engineers Malaysia Bhd (UEM). Revisiting the UEM-Renong deal, wrapped in mystery after 26 years, is no walk in the park for MACC investigators. Theories are flying, with ...

In another salvo fired by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his pursuit for revenge, The multi-million-dollar Ilham Tower, a prime commercial building owned by the family of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, has been seized by Malaysia’s anti-graft agency, sources say, in a sharp escalation to an ongoing probe into controversial transactions by corporate entities previously controlled by the one-time ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). We don’t really have to go back in time to see the questionable going-ons seen within Mahathir’s inner circle. Take for example on August 29, 2018 the shares of Opcom, a company engaged in the manufacture and sale of fiber optic cables and cable related products in Malaysia. rose 41.11% in a day. The reason? The Pakatan Harapan government had approved a RM 21.6b National Fiberization and Connectivity Plan. There is no doubt that the fiberization of Malaysia is sorely needed – and the large amount of money that has been committed thus far i...

Bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad baru-baru ini mengatakan bersedia mengambil tanggungjawab berhubung politik wang yang didakwa berleluasa dalam parti UMNO semasa beliau menjadi presiden parti berkenaan pada tahun 1990-an. Namun, Mahathir menegaskan bahawa beliau tidak seharusnya dipersalahkan sepenuhnya, kerana belia mendakwa Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim juga sepatutnya bertanggungjawab. Mahathir turut mendakwa bukan tanggungjawabnya untuk mengawal secara terperinci pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan bagi menangani isu rasuah yang semakin berakar dalam UMNO pada masa itu. Selain itu, Mahathir mengatakan UMNO kini bukan lagi parti sama yang dibentuk pada 1946 apabila tersasar daripada perjuangan bangsa, negara dan agama. Berdasarkan kenyataan Mahathir, timbul persoalan tentang sejauh mana beliau sebenarnya mengambil tanggungjawab terhadap isu yang berlaku dalam UMNO khususnya rasuah. Rujukan: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2023/11/13/dr-mahathir-says-cant-...

Despite nearing a century of age, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad remains an active figure in the political landscape. A longstanding advocate for Malay rights, Mahathir often clashed with the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) during his initial tenure as prime minister from 1981 to 2003. Given this historical context, the unexpected reconciliation between Mahathir and the Islamist PAS in May 2023 raises eyebrows. In a surprising turn, PAS President Hadi Awang endorsed the "Malay Proclamation," a 12-point manifesto crafted by Mahathir. This document seeks to foster Malay unity and rejuvenate the political influence of Malays, who constitute the majority of Malaysia's population alongside other Bumiputera groups. The proclamation suggests that Malays have experienced a decline in political authority, likely attributed to the current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. It calls for setting aside political discord to reinvigorate and safeguard the interests of the Mal...

In the run-up to what could be a historic state election vote, we have seen posturing from politicians on all sides. Most notable of which has been Syed Saddiq, who has recently declared that he will be bringing his party, MUDA, in an alliance with PSM for the upcoming polls. While this is now familiar for those who follow current politics, it is interesting to note that he has done so out of spite towards Pakatan Harapan - despite noting that his previous definition of bipartisanship also includes legitimising the current unelected government and the previous government he had previously campaigned against. Who can forget when he met with former Prime Minister Najib Razak at his home, he encountered brickbats online - a strange turn of events when considering Saddiq’s past statements towards the latter. There is a great deal of irony when the same person who decried the possibility of a PH-UMNO unity government with Najib is the same person who willingly poses and postures with Najib ...

The relationship between Mahathir and the Malaysian royalty can be described as tumultuous. Once again, the former statesman has launched another attack on the Johor royal family for allegedly failing to help the Malays. However, given his turbulent history with the royals, can we trust his accusations? Mahathir has constantly portrayed himself as a stabilizing force in Malaysian politics, with grand statements such as only he can take charge and lead the Malays into the future. But it is crystal clear today that Mahathir is responsible for the political instability we see today. Pursuing his vision of Malaysia, he turned UMNO and the Barisan Nasional into a powerful patronage machine. He crippled every institution supposed to check and balance an overreaching executive to push through his “reforms.” He often sacrificed integrity to secure loyalty and bypassed those not supporting him. What about his Bumi first policy? The effects of Mahathir’s policies on his “favoured” bumiputras hav...