Anwar: Malaysia's JFK

I'm gradually convinced Anwar is going to be a great leader. He speaks out on issues that matter most to Malaysians, reacting at the right time and providing practical solutions.

As a once ago naive die-hard government supporter... I am increasingly seeing the potential Kennedy-Reagan-Clinton leadership style in a prime-ministerial role.

Here is an insightful look at the leader as reported by Malaysiakini-the news portal that rocks.

Anwar tells PM: Negligence is greater threat
Terence Netto | Dec 27, 07 1:25pm

Malaysia is in greater danger from the negligence of those in power than from the rage felt by its recalcitrants, said PKR's de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"Our society is in greater danger from executive negligence than from the extremism of its recalcitrants,” he said in an immediate response to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's Christmas Day strictures on religious extremism.

On Dec 25, Abdullah had taken the opportunity of his attendance at the Christmas Day tea party, jointly organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia and Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur Murphy Packiam, to inveigh against religious extremisn.

The prime minister called on moderates in Malaysia to speak up to pre-empt fanatics from taking centre stage.

This drew an immediate riposte from Anwar, who with his wife Wan Azizah, also attended the tea party at the invitation of Archbishop Packiam.

"On the birth celebration of the Prince of Peace, it is right and fitting to remind every citizen of his or her value as a channel of peace, moderation and tolerance,” said Anwar, who also former deputy prime minister.

"But bear in mind that peace is not just the absence of conflict; it is the presence of justice. Where there is little or no justice, there will be a deficit in peace."

Anwar’s advice to PM

Anwar observed that Christian social teaching held peace and justice to be obverse sides of the same coin.

Of Abdullah's strictures on extremism, Anwar opined: "He is a purveyor of platitudes. He keeps his counsel when he ought to speak up.

“When he does speak up, he mouths pious platitudes which are about as useful as buying an umbrella after it has started to rain."

Anwar offered this piece of advice to the prime minister: “Look to the causes of disorder and not its symptoms, just don't treat the bark when the roots need remedy, reach for the panacea and not be satisfied with the placebo."

Dedicated to 2 Heroes

Today, October 11, 2007, is D-Day for two brave souls out there in the big concrete jungle, Kuala Lumpur.

I don't know about you, humans out there. It's astonishing that this sorry state of affairs has reached such a critical point.... What will two courageous humans who attempt to ensure the scales of justice remain balanced decide? Will they compromise their source?

Mind you, I'm a great believer in obeying the law but in this instance, without much saying, something doesn't seem fair. No doubt the ACA has to follow what is in the law. Still, it's simply outrageously morally wrong that things turn out this way. What is shown worldwide as tampering with the legal system is not nipped in the bud immediately but the good guys have to bite the bullet first, so to speak.... Will the Dark Force thus triumph?

Perhaps, just perhaps, things will work out differently for the better at the 11th hour for the two souls whom I call... heroes. Maybe, these two heroes may even decide to reveal the identity of the witness.

Here is my favorite poem, "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley, dedicated to our brothers, R. Sivarasa and Sim Tze Tzin. Let me tell you, brothers for justice, although I am on the opposite side of the political divide, I support your cause for the sake of fair justice and many generations of mine.

INVICTUS

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as a Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud,
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the Captain of my soul.

- Willian Ernest Henley (1875)

Merdaka Wishing

One of my Merdeka wishes sometime ago stated in my blog was that some famous politicians would show their sincerity in their character change by doing certain things. My wish for Tun Mahathir was that he would shave his head, a highly unlikely action... but it seems that his son's action would be the closest one could get to seeing the real thing happening to him! This pic of Mokhzani Mahathir is taken from Mahathir's daughter's blog.

On the topic of Pak Lah's great Malaysian predecessor, I like the guy and think he did a lot of amazing stuff for the nation such as building those high iconic towers in KL, etc.

I prefer not to mention big Putra Jaya because I am told he had not made it into a multi-religious city with non-Islamic worship facilities.

I also prefer to overlook certain distracting actions: his government's executive attack on the judiciary resulting in the sacking of the Lord President; the sacking of his DPM; the amendments to the constititutional clauses with regard to the powers of the monarchy and on Islamic jurisdiction and last but not least, the excessive Operation Lallang which caused pain and misery to those persons, including family members, affected by the loss of their basic civil liberties.

I always thought he could be one of the greatest world leaders, despite all those actions and his typical tough talk and harsh criticisms of anything under the sun. Here was the forceful (I think the term 'bullying' is too harsh) leader who could be the next Ghandi or Mandela: uniting our people in a fair way, perhaps even removing the unsuccessful NEP with all its abuses and special exclusive elitist beneficiaries; ensuring meritocracy would be woven into our society's fabric so that there would be little teasing, less mockery about unfair educational opportunities, benefits and free hand-outs to a special segment of our society.

The end result of all the Ghandi and Mandela-like actions would surely be the birth of a new Malaysian spirit that takes pride in a truly multi-cultural society that will share in the diversity of our races and creeds. In accepting various creeds, no religion will be allowed to force another to follow it and no religion will also be allowed to prevent others from leaving it.

There can always be wishes and dreams... but the visions are the ones that I wish our leaders will have and achieve them in fairness and justice. May they do so legally under our just and fair constitution and not undermine it. Merdeka would be a hollow word if the nation goes to the dogs, so to speak and we end up as a nation with more and more loss of civil liberties and miserable Fourth World conditions.

Having said all these, I don't believe Mokhzani was reacting to my challenge anyway but it's a nice thought to think that who knows, our Cosmic Joker above made it all possible... indirectly and it is a sign that our ex-tough master statesman, is really a changed man.... A man who now believes in true justice for all regardless of status and the full liberty of all Malaysians (You got it, Rousseau's "Man is born free" and all that idealistic noble stuff) .... I wish he would retract his words about Malaysia being an Islamic state... I wish ... I wish... Here I go again with so many never-ending wishes on this special day!