Some friends have asked me as to how story will remember former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad. This has led me to meditative about Ho Chi Minh, Sukarno, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lee Kuan Yew as well as alternative Asian giants of colonial as well as post colonial history, as well as how Mahathir measures up to them.
However, comparing him to alternative leaders in the Asian community might be unfair to Mahathir (right) as it might be perfectionist as well tall the customary in leadership, given the surprising as well as unusual stand of leaders in the partial of the world.Instead, you am right away some-more inclined to review him with leaders from alternative countries of the world where the some-more aged might be some-more appropriate.
One personality with whom you am sure Mahathir would not mind some-more aged is Kwame Nkrumah, the hulk of ? la mode African story whom Mahathir is substantially hoping when his own obituary is written for destiny generations to put him in the association of.
Is Mahathir, who has borrowed the ideas (and the slogans) of Nkrumah as well as alternative leading post autonomy leaders estimable of such the comparison? Or does he go to the small alternative group?
Revisiting neo-colonialism
Some 40 years ago, when you was the younger man, Nkrumah who was boss of Ghana (1960 66), coined the tenure neo-colonialism in his book 'Neo-Colonialism, the Last Stage of Imperialism' (1965). In it he described the socio-economic as well as made at home control that can be exercised economically, linguistically, ! as well as culturally, whereby promotion of the culture of the neo-colonist country, facilitates the cultural assimilation of the colonised people, as well as thus opens the inhabitant manage to buy to the multinational corporations of the neo-colonial country.
Although Nkrumah was an superb made at home personality who was the chief catalyst for his country's autonomy (he had the much rougher time from the colonial system of administration than most determined politicians as well as Mahathir ever had) most colleagues as well as you who lived by that turbulent post-colonial period were not sensitive to his ideas upon neo-colonialism.
Wh! ile it might have had the small effect in the small post-colonial states, nothing of us ever suspicion that the country, Malaya then, was ever the neo-colonial or puppet state of the British or any alternative Western interest.
In the initial place you had the successful passing from the single to another from the colonial border to full autonomy without the kind of traumatic knowledge that the small African countries went through. The legacy that Britain left in Malaysia was additionally the certain one.
Is Mahathir, who has borrowed the ideas (and the slogans) of Nkrumah as well as alternative leading post autonomy leaders estimable of such the comparison? Or does he go to the small alternative group?
Revisiting neo-colonialism
Some 40 years ago, when you was the younger man, Nkrumah who was boss of Ghana (1960 66), coined the tenure neo-colonialism in his book 'Neo-Colonialism, the Last Stage of Imperialism' (1965). In it he described the socio-economic as well as made at home control that can be exercised economically, linguistically, ! as well as culturally, whereby promotion of the culture of the neo-colonist country, facilitates the cultural assimilation of the colonised people, as well as thus opens the inhabitant manage to buy to the multinational corporations of the neo-colonial country.
Although Nkrumah was an superb made at home personality who was the chief catalyst for his country's autonomy (he had the much rougher time from the colonial system of administration than most determined politicians as well as Mahathir ever had) most colleagues as well as you who lived by that turbulent post-colonial period were not sensitive to his ideas upon neo-colonialism.Wh! ile it might have had the small effect in the small post-colonial states, nothing of us ever suspicion that the country, Malaya then, was ever the neo-colonial or puppet state of the British or any alternative Western interest.
In the initial place you had the successful passing from the single to another from the colonial border to full autonomy without the kind of traumatic knowledge that the small African countries went through. The legacy that Britain left in Malaysia was additionally the certain one.
As for me, you privately never felt gratified to the British in any way. In their relationship with me, my English friends were regularly deferential as well as they honestly took honour in their certain grant to the nationhood. When you had business exchange with the British following autonomy in the country, they were regularly honest as well as kept their promises.
Of course this does not excuse the exploitation of the Malaysian manage to buy during the colonial period by the British as well as their attempts at order as well as order to means their authority. But you find it troubli! ng as we ll as unacceptable at your convenience the ultra-nationalists, including Mahathir - at your convenience it suits their bulletin - to change the blame for the problems of the manage to buy as well as multitude to the machinations of foreigners as well as former colonial powers.
Borrowing from the exaggeration of Nkrumah's neo-colonial thesis, these 'patriots' see the unfamiliar snake, dark at the back of any brush as well as they will raise their voices audibly about this threat any time they need the distraction from their own made at home failings.
The most superb reverend of the dummy's chronicle of an anti neo-colonialism favourite is Mahathir. Here is the male who has milked the unfamiliar bogey - whether it is Britain, Australia, Singapore, the United States, Israel, Jews, the Green movement, the IMF, George Soros, etc - loudly as well as incessantly to serve his made at home interests as well as feed his ego.
Unlike most unfamiliar analysts, you feel that it is not his great wolf upon neo-colonialism upon so most occasions that Mahathir will best be remembered in history. Rather it is the cynical, divisive as well as racist beliefs that initial appeared in his Malay Dilemma book, that he has never renounced as well as that he has right away regenerated in his twilight years.
It is additionally necessary to point out that although Mahathir is credited with the bold objectives of Vision 2020, he can be regarded as the single of the categorical obstacles station in the approach of that vision. This is the theme you have lonesome extensively in my book'Malaysia: Road Map to Achieving Vision 2020' that is available in most book shops.
Many Malaysians are right away wakeful as well of his adoption of the classical colonial plan of 'divide as well as ru! le', the plan written to take us back instead of forward.
Of course this does not excuse the exploitation of the Malaysian manage to buy during the colonial period by the British as well as their attempts at order as well as order to means their authority. But you find it troubli! ng as we ll as unacceptable at your convenience the ultra-nationalists, including Mahathir - at your convenience it suits their bulletin - to change the blame for the problems of the manage to buy as well as multitude to the machinations of foreigners as well as former colonial powers.
Borrowing from the exaggeration of Nkrumah's neo-colonial thesis, these 'patriots' see the unfamiliar snake, dark at the back of any brush as well as they will raise their voices audibly about this threat any time they need the distraction from their own made at home failings.
The most superb reverend of the dummy's chronicle of an anti neo-colonialism favourite is Mahathir. Here is the male who has milked the unfamiliar bogey - whether it is Britain, Australia, Singapore, the United States, Israel, Jews, the Green movement, the IMF, George Soros, etc - loudly as well as incessantly to serve his made at home interests as well as feed his ego.
Unlike most unfamiliar analysts, you feel that it is not his great wolf upon neo-colonialism upon so most occasions that Mahathir will best be remembered in history. Rather it is the cynical, divisive as well as racist beliefs that initial appeared in his Malay Dilemma book, that he has never renounced as well as that he has right away regenerated in his twilight years.
It is additionally necessary to point out that although Mahathir is credited with the bold objectives of Vision 2020, he can be regarded as the single of the categorical obstacles station in the approach of that vision. This is the theme you have lonesome extensively in my book'Malaysia: Road Map to Achieving Vision 2020' that is available in most book shops.Many Malaysians are right away wakeful as well of his adoption of the classical colonial plan of 'divide as well as ru! le', the plan written to take us back instead of forward.
The sacrament of this discredited plan stems from his raging as well as desperate attempt to forestall the opposition from entrance in to power, as well as his biggest fear that the brand new Pakatan Rakyat government will expose as well as expose all the unwashed tricks as well as scandals of his era, thereby overturning the official as well as magisterial chronicle of the achievements of the Mahathir regime.
The two's opinions of their societies
Despite all of Nkrumah's failings, the African personality regularly suspicion rarely of his people as well as nation, as well as sought the highest ideals for them. In the single of his essays, Nkrumah wrote:
The two's opinions of their societies
Despite all of Nkrumah's failings, the African personality regularly suspicion rarely of his people as well as nation, as well as sought the highest ideals for them. In the single of his essays, Nkrumah wrote:
"We fundamental principle any male to be an end in himself, not merely the means; as well as you accept the prerequisite of guaranteeing any male next to opportunities for his development.
"The implications of this for socio-political practice have to be worked out scientifically, as well as the necessary social as well as economic policies pursued with resolution. "Any suggestive humanism must proceed from egalitarianism as well as must lead to objectively selected policies for defence as well as nutritious egalitarianism." (1967 letter entitled "African Socialism Revisited").
In 2000, Nkrumah was voted Africa's male of the millennium by listeners to the BBC World Service.
Mahathir in contrariety has had small respect or good to contend of any of the communities that have up the society. He has regularly suspicion feeble of his own adopted Malay community as well as even worse of alternative prolonged settled as well as digested non-Muslim communities. Witness not usually his writ! ings tho ugh additionally his new personification of the 'immigrant' card to inflame Perkasa crowds against the Pakatan Rakyat as well as Anwar Ibrahim.
His focus upon local Malay as well as Muslim rights as well as omnipotence appears hypocritical since he has been the prime minister obliged for condoning no, enlivening - the largest wave of immigrant arrivals in to the republic in new times. Witness additionally his latest attempts to forestall the passing from the single to another of the republic to the some-more approved as well as reduction authoritarian one.
I think Mahathir will in conclusion be remembered not for the peculiarity of his care or the approach in that he has sought to clear the potential of all the citizens. He will certainly not be remembered for his customary of governance or the example he has set in arousing Malaysians to give their best to the country.
Rather he will most be remembered for his unusual lon! g jot down of care in the country. It is the 22 year jot down of made at home opportunism as well as survival secured by delectable to the baser instincts of self aggrandizement as well as greed as well as the strategy of the major institutions of government.
In 2000, Nkrumah was voted Africa's male of the millennium by listeners to the BBC World Service.
Mahathir in contrariety has had small respect or good to contend of any of the communities that have up the society. He has regularly suspicion feeble of his own adopted Malay community as well as even worse of alternative prolonged settled as well as digested non-Muslim communities. Witness not usually his writ! ings tho ugh additionally his new personification of the 'immigrant' card to inflame Perkasa crowds against the Pakatan Rakyat as well as Anwar Ibrahim.
His focus upon local Malay as well as Muslim rights as well as omnipotence appears hypocritical since he has been the prime minister obliged for condoning no, enlivening - the largest wave of immigrant arrivals in to the republic in new times. Witness additionally his latest attempts to forestall the passing from the single to another of the republic to the some-more approved as well as reduction authoritarian one.I think Mahathir will in conclusion be remembered not for the peculiarity of his care or the approach in that he has sought to clear the potential of all the citizens. He will certainly not be remembered for his customary of governance or the example he has set in arousing Malaysians to give their best to the country.
Rather he will most be remembered for his unusual lon! g jot down of care in the country. It is the 22 year jot down of made at home opportunism as well as survival secured by delectable to the baser instincts of self aggrandizement as well as greed as well as the strategy of the major institutions of government.
This is why story will not decider him so kindly though will place him in the association of lesser as well as even failed leaders such as Ferdinand Marcos, Suharto as well as Robert Mugabe.
KOON YEW YIN , the late chartered engineer, is the philanthropist.
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