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With the onset of yet another Mahathirism rule, this time in the guise of one Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia will feel a sense of déjà vu when the new administration takes over from “lame duck” Pak Lah in March 2009 (or sooner). I am already thinking of hanging the former PM’s photo up in my place of business
Even in (semi) retirement and self-imposed “exile”, Tun Mahathir commanded considerable influence and clout to directly pressure the incumbent PM incessantly (brings to mind of yet another senior statesman just south of the border but that’s different because it was a father ordering his son around). Any other Malaysian voicing such blatant disapproval of the Pak Lah administration would have been bundled off to Kamunting a long, long time ago (care of the Home Minister). But then again, we are talking of a former Malaysian “strongman” PM with super-duper loyal supporters within the present government (including the Home Minister). Muhyiddin Yassin will probably become the DPM (if Tun Mahathir sanctions it) and the Cabinet will be full of those that have supported Tun Mahathir Najib before. Woe befalls those that have elected to criticize the former PM before and after he left UMNO. They should be thinking earnestly of doing a “Balasubramaniam – NRIC: 600928-08-62835” (runner) because Tun Mahathir never forgives, and Tun Mahathir never forgets. A major clean up is imminent and those responsible for bad mouthing the Mahathir Najib camp will suffer serious repercussions. Even those mildly affiliated with Pak Lah will be condemned. Mukhriz will definitely gain strength (owing to his surname). Hishamuddin will stay quiet (owing to his different surname). Khairy will tremble in his boots (now), pee in his pants (later) and shit in fright (much later). Zaid will probably fade into the woodwork. Syed Hamid will retain his post as the Home Minister due to his extreme diehard loyalty to Najib Tun Razak, who in turn will grab the Finance and Defense portfolios. One can openly criticize the Pak Lah administration but I seriously do not think that the Mahathir Najib administration will never tolerate such behaviour. Ong Tee Keat will be demoted. Sammy V will be retired. Kavyeas can do anything he thinks he wants because nobody actually knows what he is doing and nobody actually wants to know (do you?) what he is doing or plans to do. Our AP Queen will regret speaking her mind off when Tun Mahathir retired and will try to kiss and make up in Parliament (when and if she is there). Those that joined Tun Mahathir in the exodus from UMNO will be opening new swiss banking accounts. Those that have collected in the past few years (under Pak Lah) will be transferring their assets overseas under pseudonyms. Those that haven’t got a bleary thing (myself included) will have to amuse ourselves in ways that is banned from being mentioned here (due to underage minors reading this blog). During the Mahathir era, the Malaysian economy boomed even when human rights were abused disregarded. Will another Ops Lalang precede an administration change? Will Malaysians (with cash in their pockets) choose to look the other way when this happens? I hopefully think not. The question remains in what we can do in the first place other than having “dangerous” candle light vigils and organizing visitation trips to Kamunting. The new Mahathir Najib administration will probably announce new reforms to the Law and the Judiciary with the impending (Law) Minister-in-charge (definitely not Zaid) having special powers to push such reforms through with lightning speed (as compared to a snail). They will say that the Pak Lah reforms were misguided (because he was asleep when he made that decision) and that these “sleeping-reforms” will in turn be “reformed” into the old “reforms” (meaning pre Pak Lah reforms) and that the ex-gratia payments to the sacked judges will be “temporarily suspended” awaiting review (in 2020, not mentioned). Monies paid (to the sacked judges) must be returned (with interest) to the Treasury (with Swiss account number attached) immediately (meaning yesterday). MCA, MIC and Gerakan will be brought into line pronto “chop-chop”. Only God will know what will happen to Najib’s ex-best friend who is awaiting trial in the Altantuya murder case (to C4 or not to C4, that is the question). Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim will face new (and harder) challenges and reactions from the new Mahathir Najib administration. “Tolerance” will NOT be the “in” word. “Ketuanan Melayu” to become the comeback kid on the block. One will wonder if Hishamuddin still gets the opportunity to do a fourth rerun on the keris-waving episode (yawn). The public will learn about new government decisions and policies from www.chedet.com even before the government announces it “live” to the media. Those that have only profited from Mahathir will sigh in relief, as the ACA hones in at the opposing direction (kompas koyak) towards those that have spoken aloud about corruption. Those that have profited from both Mahathir and Pak Lah will be very quiet. Now we will witness those expert “back-paddlers” working their specialised art of “patching up”, lest they get caught in the maelstrom. Maybe Najib will do a Mahathir and grab the ACA Head position as well. The 9th Malaysian Plan and Budget 2008 will be ditched, discarded, dumped and disposed of (the new 4D). Everyone remotely connected with the new Mahathir Najib administration will attempt their hardest to “undo” what has been done since 12.01 am, November 1st, 2003. We will see (and definitely hear) more of our former PM (the one before our outgoing PM) whilst our incumbent PM (the one after our outgoing PM) will also be the medium in which our former PM (the one before our outgoing PM) utilizes to turn his every wish into a royal command. The “few” scrapped pet projects will be revived, revitalized and re-funded (the new 3R). Additionally, Rosmah (Mister Najib) will have to watch very, very carefully just how she manipulates advises Najib (Missus Najib) so as not to step on Tun Mahathir’s supersize-85 (men) shoes or offend the kingmaker in any particular way (one way or the other). Regardless of how tough she thinks she is, “Mister” Najib is no match whatsoever for the elder statesman (including who is capable of pissing the furthest or burping the longest). Hopefully the crime statistics will come down after March 2009. Would we witness a return of the “horse-machine” and the “fruits-machine”? If so, unemployment figures will definitely be better (again) since a lot of “unemployed” people (now working part-time as robbers, thieves and burglars) will be “re-employed” full-time as caretakers of such establishments (and then there are the “coin-bearers” plus the “council car-followers” and the “machine technicians” and the “Bukit Aman liaisons”). The local economy will positively be better as there will be “more” money floating around (due to more wages being paid out, don’t mistaken me here). We could even attain a 9% GDP increase year upon year! (Who cares what everybody says about a global credit meltdown) I can even then afford the new BMW M5 I was (am) salivating and drooling over (slurp). Long Live Mahathir Najib.
- Hakim Joe
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