Of Egomaniacs And Childish Stunts In Politics

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Please do not take this opener on Dr Mahathir Mohamad too seriously. The old man's latest slap at Najib Abdul Razak was quite something, is it not?
The Pejuang chairperson has described Najib's "Malu Apa Bossku" slogan to a naked man receiving a foreign dignitary and then urinating in front of the guest.
Oh dear, Mahathir, Mahathir! Even in my utter disgust and deepest contempt for a political adversary, I doubt I could manage thinking and saying aloud a Mahathir's "naked man peeing in front of a foreign guest".
Dear Mahathir, that was more than a good one. It was a terrific one!
However, with the utmost respect to the nonagenarian, I have to say that it was childishly personal. And that's the painful truth.
It was childish because I don't think slamming Najib in such a crudely obnoxious way was necessary. What Mahathir held against Najib is already well known, and there is no necessity to repeat it. This latest tirade was overboard.
There are those who also find it difficult, impossible even, to forgive the many 'sins' of Mahathir. Yet, I believe many are still happy to hear that the 97-year-old, with a history of heart issues, has recovered from a recent "severe attack on my health".
We are all decent humans with a heart, and we only wish each other well, even our worst enemies.
Mahathir has acknowledged that "my time is definitely not long" and that he wanted to continue fighting the scourges of corruption.
Dr Mahathir MohamadPerhaps, someone should advise our grand old man that he should stop making very silly, childish personal comments against his adversaries in whatever is left of his time.
Another thing. Mahathir still thinks that he is the only Malay leader capable of eradicating corruption and saving "my Malay people".
This one is okay. That's the egomaniac in Mahathir and typical of most politicians who just can't help but think so highly of themselves.
Personal war of words
The Johor election is now on, and it has attracted a total of 239 candidates vying for 56 seats in the Johor state assembly.
A lot is at stake for the main coalitions and leaders in Johor, the most notable of whom is Muhyiddin Yassin, the Bersatu president and a former prime minister.
We are aware that the Umno-Bersatu war has heated up, with the Johor polls now in place. Not expectedly, it has also taken on a personal 'tit for tat' war of words which I could also describe as childish stunts.
Muhyiddin launched his tirade first at Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi during a ceramah in Tangkak on Feb 16 with a revelation that Zahid had visited his home with piles of files in 2020, requesting help on his court cases.
Muhyiddin said he refused to help, which prompted Zahid to back an effort to oust him as the prime minister.
Zahid said he was prepared to take a sumpah laknat to refute Muhyiddin's claim.
A sumpah laknat is an oath beseeching God to curse those who are in the wrong.
Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (left) and Bersatu president Muhyiddin YassinThe allegation is serious, but the way it was handled by two senior Malay politicians who are supposed to be at the top of their game makes them look so childish as if they were quarrelling like kids. The issue at hand was thus made irrelevant.
Egomaniacs they are too, because both could never be seen or perceived to be lying in the eyes of the public. At times, our ego gets the better of us, so much so that we do not even know how childish they have turned us into.
'Stop blowing your trumpet'
The DAP is also guilty of the 'egomaniac syndrome' as a recent episode clearly showed.
On Feb 19, DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke declared that Johor DAP chief Liew Chin Tong had been ordered to contest in the Johor polls "because the party leadership feels that Liew must be the general and lead (other DAP candidates) into battle".
Wow! Seriously? Liew has been "ordered" to contest! Does this mean that Liew is indispensable? He must lead the party into the elections. Without Liew, DAP is kaput! Is this the message DAP is sending to the public?
Knowing Liew personally, I don't think he is an egomaniac. But Loke and the DAP have turned him into one. I just loathe such bragging by politicians.
Now, Liew's ego must have been greatly boosted – "You see, I don't want to be a candidate, but my party has "ordered" me to. So I have to contest". Oh, haven't we heard of such self-glorification only too often?
In politics, DAP people should do well to remember that "no one is indispensable". I hope the current crop of DAP leaders will bear in mind that such bragging of indispensability and invincibility was unheard of during the glory days of Karpal Singh, Dr Chen Man Hin and Lim Kit Siang.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan EngHere, I also wish to remind DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng to stop bragging about Pakatan Harapan's achievements during its 22 months in power.
Whatever achievements there were could not exonerate Harapan and the DAP from their inability and failure to fulfil the people's GE14 mandate. Don't blame the traitors. Blame yourselves for not being able to handle your rogue colleagues in Harapan.
So, please Mr sec-gen, stop blowing your trumpet. It was a total white-wash – Harapan and DAP were a failure.
Let me say this about the Johor elections. Harapan has learned nothing over the past two years. Even PKR is not prepared to use the Harapan logo; only DAP and Amanah are using it. What does that tell us of the inter-party relations in the opposition coalition?
With a multitude of opposition parties unable to work together but fielding candidates against each other, what do this infighting and disunity indicate?
There are many egomaniacs among our politicians from both sides. It's so difficult for them to get rid of their self-importance. That's their main folly! - Mkini
FRANCIS PAUL SIAH is a veteran Sarawak editor and heads the Movement for Change, Sarawak (MoCS). He can be reached at [email protected]
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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