Thursday, December 24, 2009

Malaysian Maverick & A Broken Legacy

By Khoo Kay Peng

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang wants Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to set up a royal commission of inquiry to determine if his mentor Dr Mahathir Mohamad had 'burned' RM100 billion on grandiose projects and corruption during his 22-year reign.

The book penned by former Asian Wall Street Journal managing editor Barry Wain, entitled 'Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times' has pointed the finger at Dr M for the legacy of "wasting or burning up" RM100 billion in his long tenure.

I have not read the book but would welcome the government to lift the restriction for it to be sold in all book stores. It should be a good Christmas gift for a few good friends too.

The call for another royal commission of inquiry is laughable and still premature. It is natural for Lim wanting to score a few political points. But Dr M is already paying the price for his broken legacy.

The numerous royal commissions have been quite 'unroyal' and a waste of useful resources. The government, and not only Dr M, must respond to the allegations contained in Wain's book.

Then again, the best way to avoid more limelight is to stay mum in Malaysia. Malaysians are quite forgetful. Soon we will go back to the old way of kissing the dirty hands of these politicians.

The government PR guys, APCO, must be doing a good job. Yes, less or none (reply) is more (advantages).

The New Year verdict is BN is not capable of a real reform. We are going to waste our money paying the salary of both KPI Ministers Koh Tsu Koon and Idris Jala. Bung Mokhtar is a smart ass. It is better to spend it on his mistress.

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