MAHATHIR-NAJIB FEUD ESCALATES: ONLY ONE MAN CAN WALK AWAY 'ALIVE'

There are a growing number of Malaysian voices from all walks of life seeking the tenacious duel between Mahathir and Najib to cease as there are growing and alarming concerns that the duo are set to wreck more havoc and misery on the ‘rakyat’ and nation.

Never in the history of this country, since Merdeka or Independence from the British, has two national leaders have had such acrimony and such a bitter feud between them that it looks likely that it’s really going to be a fight to the finish and is set to go down to the wire.

While Najib appears to have the edge, there is no mistaking that the aging Mahathir is not going to go to his grave defeated. Mahathir, in fact, has become so tenacious and gritty, a changed man, by changing politics, as he is seeing himself and his legacy, family, cronies and sycophants going to tatters.

This is why there is, on a daily basis, growing voices in the country and even from abroad, for the two leaders to come to terms and settle their differences amicably. But it looks like pleading and appealing are all a past option as it looks like only one will survive and prosper in the end.

In other words, Mahathir is aiming for the jugular. After over a year of trying to oust Najib unsuccessfully, the fear and concern of every Malaysian is that even more damaging tactics will be used by Mahathir to get rid of Najib.

Ordinary Malaysians in distress

Ever since Barisan Nasional (BN) won the 13th GE in a most dubious way and manner, the tempo of suffering on ordinary Malaysians have increased in a variety of ways, and now, under soaring temperatures, the heat is definitely on in the country.

Not only are Malaysians hot under the collar but the spiral in the prices of goods and services, the implementation of GST, impending toll hikes, astronomical housing prices, a poor and weak education system and a transport system that is going haywire has made living conditions deplorable.

Despite the BN government’s parading of so called facts and figures and statistics, there is no mistaking in real life, the ground realities, that the country is descending into chaos and confusion and there are signs and symptoms that it’s gone to the dogs.

No Malaysian in his right mind will declare and believe that life in this country has improved under the leadership of Najib. In fact, the Quality-of-Life in this country has deteriorated so much that there are a significant number of people who have withdrawn their life savings such as EPF and left the country.

Ordinary Malaysians can no longer suffer the distressing conditions in Malaysia that they are seeking to opt for greener pastures and this is creating a huge brain drain as qualified and skilled Malaysians leave the country leaving a void that cannot be filled owing to their rare expertise.

Scenario of gloom and doom

While Mahathir and Najib are just thinking and behaving like obstinate beasts, it is highly unimaginable that there are Malaysians who actually believe that this country is on the right track. But only the elite think this way as they are still able to live a lavish and opulent life at the expense of ordinary Malaysians.

How is this so? While the bulk or majority of Malaysians, about eighty per cent live from hand-to-mouth, the governing elite of 20 percent, holding approximately 80 per cent of the wealth of the nation, live in absolute splendor.

The wealth that was created from the economic booms in the past and present has never been equitably distributed among the people due to corruption, cronyism, collusion and nepotism within the ranks of the BN government.

This is why civil society is now coming out strongly and there are also a growing number of non-governmental organizations who are championing for Malaysia to return to democracy and for Malaysians to stop supporting dictators like Mahathir and Najib who are no good for the nation.

Seeking permanent solutions

Both Mahathir and Najib have actually outlived their usefulness for this country. It is best for the nation and people that both of them go as they are openly and knowingly corrupt and have failed to practice fair play, justice and meritocracy.

Mahathir and Najib in fact have tinkered heavily with the tenets and obligations of democracy and this is why Malaysia is mentioned always in the same vein as rogue nations like Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea as they have severely compromised on democracy.

Not only is Malaysia viewed as a rogue nation by the international community, there are already signs due to the 1MDB saga that the world is now beginning to see Malaysia as a failed state. These are signs that there is a lot of work to be done to now restore a nation tottering on the edge of bankruptcy.

Not only is the nation going bankrupt but there are millions of Malaysians who have individually been declared bankrupt and this has dented the image of the nation by having the highest number of NPL’s or Non-Performing Loans in the region.

Besides this Malaysia has the highest amount of household debt in Asia and rising fast because of the declining economy and there are signs also to suggest that the wages and salaries of workers are not keeping in tandem with rising inflation.

A bleak future

Much as Malaysians might want to stay positive and optimistic, the writing on the wall is that the future looks bleak for the country. This is because of a host of rising factors that are negative and even destructive to the country.

Environmental degradation that has led to climate change, a poor health care system, communities that live in unhygienic and unsafe conditions are set to grow and increase as Malaysians witness the fruit of their labour eaten up by corruption and mismanagement and misappropriation by the government.

This is why unless there is a more forceful move by Malaysians to get rid of deadwood, self-seeking and self-serving leaders like Mahathir and Najib and most of the politicians who are out to care only for themselves, their families and cronies and sycophants, there is little hope of change for the better.

Malaysians must rise up to the clarion call and answer the cry to do battle against evil, the evil malaise that is causing a nation with the vast potential of being in the forefront of the nations of the world now starting to sink into the abyss. - MAILBAG