An open Letter to Tun Mahathir

Dear Tun Dr. Mahathir,

In 1998 I was one of the students who signed the petition in front of Ambrose mosque in Manchester, asking for the rational justification concerning the shocked eradication of Anwar Ibrahim; the former number two. We were very angry and eager to be part of the demonstrations in KL, envy we did but the distance was too far for us. With that I am requesting for the real answer, not the gay saga or the corruption charges, just the chorological of events that lead to your decision.

Although he is the latest populist, I am not really a fan of Anwar, a man who can really talk without the real walk; sadly he is the preeminent we have at this moment, to be the strongest bond of them all. The tribes have spoken and the populace are now divided, one who choose to wipe out the incapable leader and another who believe that the man will renovate in the near future doing miracle to nation development. I am with you on this matter; he’s too slow, too weak and sundry of other pessimistic remarks.

Tun, your legacy as a progressive leader will always be one of the obsession to narrate during my son Danial’s story time, let alone your courageousness to speak up while other Muslim leaders remain silent towards the modern colonials i.e. the arrogant yanks or the Jew in disguise. On behalf of the Muslim population I would like to thank you for the effort which I think Tuan Guru Nik Aziz will be with me on this occasion.

During your tenure as the prime minister of Malaysia you’ve created few millionaires among the Malays but they fail to distribute the wealth like you’ve always desire. People like Halim Saad vanished in his world of rich and famous without much contribution beyond the circle of influence except for the famous school in Malacca. The gap between the well-off and the needy are widen only to get worse with the incompetency of the current government which decide to multiply the wealth within the most elegant family, the one with new graceful mother.

Reading the mainstream news is like reading a fiction by Dan Brown, nothing is real but they made it as if the truth is always on their side. The Mahathir’s bashing time is far from over and it is rather bizarre seeing the idiots buying loyalty with money, UMNO no longer a party for the Malays but a tool for the greedy politicians. Kudos! To you Tun, you went out before it is too late.

Tun, you talked about Malays during the forum in Kajang, but I guess that sentiment is pretty much outdated, believe me Tun, playing along the racial line does not bring any good to the nation. I told my son to walk hand in hand with the Chinese or Indians friends but make sure he hold on to Islam.

Coming from a small town known as Teluk Intan, I never have problem with the Chinese and Indian neighbors but years of marginalization I can barely recall their names. New Economic Policy was all about refurbishing the equity, but the consequences go beyond the inequality in economy; it affected the relationship that once disregards the religion and races. Forget about the entire voracious Malay Ali Baba businessman, the young Malays under your guidance and facilitation all the while is ready for the big challenge.

I once read about Parti Negara founded by Dato’ Onn Jaafar, it was a multiracial political party like the one they have now in Keadilan. Why was the idea rejected by the leaders at that time? Wouldn’t it help create the patriotism among the non-Malays towards the country? After all, acknowledging the non-Malays only when they win the Thomas Cup or the bowling championship does not make sense to me. Most of the time we told the Chinese or Indians, they are not really important (especially by the youth of UMNO). Could that be the reason why they work harder to succeed?

I will stop at those questions and really hope you can answer my curiosity, I am a naïve young man who doesn’t really understand politics but I am trying my best acquiring all the knowledge and history of this country, both sides of the partisans. Thank you and be strong.


Shahrul Azmi