Sanusi v Sanusi – a case of class versus crass

 

Intelligent, highly-educated, a man of books and very widely-read – those are words often used to describe Kedah menteri besar Sanusi.

A product of the Malay College, Kuala Kangsar, he was known for his brilliant mind and many achievements, both at federal and state levels.

Here are just some of his great qualities: fluent in German and Mandarin, and even Tamil, besides English and Bahasa Malaysia, of course.

Besides MCKK, he studied at the Institute of Bankers London, City of London College and the Institute of Export, London, besides getting his certificate in Foreign Trade and Foreign Exchange at the University of London.

I am, of course, talking about the late Sanusi Junid, the man who was menteri besar between 1996 and 1999.

He is the man credited with starting the International Book Village in Langkawi in an attempt to get the islanders to read more (or should that be: more islanders to read).

He was so into books that he practically turned his house into a library. Any photograph of Sanusi in his office would have the backdrop of more books.

When he spoke, people listened. He always knew what he was talking about and he had plenty of stories to tell.

Many who knew him tell of his love for Malaysia’s diversity and how he felt all ethnic minorities must be proud of their heritage, just as he was of his Acehnese roots.

Malaysia, he acknowledged, is what it is because of the hard work of all, irrespective of race, religion or social standing. He was a man who earned much respect from all.

Another menteri besar named Sanusi is now at the reins in Kedah. He is Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor and he’s a different kettle of fish.

This man, said to be a graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia, also has a lot to say. But his language is often crass, rude, even smacking of arrogance, and much of what he says sounds like a tall tale.

When he opens his mouth to speak, he has a tendency to put his foot in it.

In December last year, he said Kedah had found rare earth elements in the state amounting to about RM43 trillion The world woke up with a start, even calling the state Wakedah, as in Marvel’s fictional vibranium-producing Wakanda.

The trillions were somehow whittled down to RM62 billion – still a king’s fortune by any measure – and Sanusi even announced a joint venture partnership to mine this rare earth.

Nine months on, the project sites have yet to be named, never mind the mining.

Unlike the Sanusi of old, this new one has been wont to demolishing temples, and accusing worshippers of building their shrines anywhere they like, notwithstanding that many of the temples were built when the British were around.

To add fuel to fire, he told MIC leaders that he did not need Indian votes.

Contrast his approach to that of the elder Sanusi, a man who returned from abroad to repay a debt to his Chinese dhobi who had washed his clothes for free in college, or his lifelong gratitude to his Indian teachers who taught him both German and Tamil, and the friends who cooked for him.

The younger Sanusi, on the other hand, would not even provide state aid to any non-Muslim house of prayer, leaving them out of the state budget. When the MIC guys again protested, he said they were drunk on the “toddy of popularity.”

That, to him, was a metaphor, a joke, a laughing matter. It was not. It was a racial slur.

Which is, again, the problem with his latest “joke” when he said “We have enough containers for the Covid-19 dead. Those who want to go in can submit their names”, his mirth clear under his mask

He thought it was a joke, something to laugh about, and reporters sniggered along – uncomfortably, I hope.

But death is not a joke. And Covid-19 deaths? That’s worse. People are losing families – fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children.

They cannot even give the dead a proper send-off. In many cases, they cannot even have one last look at their loved ones. Their anguish is very real. And that is what caused the angry reaction.

Anyone who cannot understand that has to be a joke himself. Yet, the cops got busy arresting those who ranted against him.

The man apologised for his remarks, admitted that they were insensitive, and was quick to shoot his mouth off again.

He remains adamant that the conversation was a private matter between him and the reporters present and was no business of those outside.

Let me get this straight. You call a press conference, speak to reporters – and think that’s a private conversation? Obviously, you don’t have the faintest idea about how things work.

That was quite clear when he nixed the Thaipusam public holidays. Not only were the Indians incensed, even people like former prime minister Najib Razak were stumped. Sanusi’s logic? It’s MCO, you can’t carry kavadis, so you don’t need a holiday.

Then, there was the multi-billion ringgit Bukit Malut race track in Langkawi, a plan to turn a part of sedate Langkawi into an Asian Monte Carlo, complete with an F1 track.

Poor Sanusi (the older one) – who wanted his people to be humble and learned – would be turning in his grave.

And when helpful folk started the white flag campaign to address the problems of thousands around the country who were going hungry, the younger Sanusi as good as laughed it off.

He said he would not help those who flew white flags. His government, he felt, was doing a great job of feeding the hungry.

It’s this kind of arrogance that can really test people’s patience and drive them to hurl insults. Does he really care? Or is he more interested in test drives?

 

Where Sanusi Junid was seen as a serious man whose words were taken seriously, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor comes across as a ‘joker’ who can rub people the wrong way. - FMT

 

 

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.