Annuar Musa a classic example of ‘Melayu mudah lupa’

Umno-Baru information chief Annuar Musa’s claim that former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad never commanded strong Malay support, even throughout his 22-year tenure, is disingenuous.

In response to Annuar’s claim, a Malay political activist said: “Annuar is the classic example of the disease which Mahathir said afflicted the Malays, that ‘Melayu mudah lupa’ (Malays easily forget). Annuar entered politics in the late 1970s. For all we know, Annuar praised Mahathir at the time.

“In those days, if you wanted your career to progress, you supported those at the top. There was no dissent and everyone kow tows to the leader, however bad or dictatorial they appear to be.

“Today, this political posturing is the culture of Umno-Baru/BN politics. Nothing has changed. People want to be heard saying the right things, and be seen in the right company. Anyone who dares to confront their leaders will find a premature end to his political career.”

Tunku Abdul Rahman expelled Mahathir from the party, and Najib Razak’s father, Abdul Razak, who then became prime minister, rescued Mahathir from the political wilderness.

During his enforced sabbatical from politics, Mahathir wrote his book “The Malay Dilemma” and candidly outlined their shortcomings. He tried to help the Malays address their problems, and to balance the economic hardship and poverty faced by the community, but he did this in a perverse way.

Razak had introduced affirmative action policies, but the emerging Mahathir simply perfected them.

Mahathir cemented his place in history as the champion of the Malays. As an “outsider”, he knew that behind his back, he was mocked for being an Indian. He was also aware that the massive Malay ego needed constant nursing. He knew that the Malays abhor criticism and suffered from the crab mentality.

Mahathir massaged the Malay ego, and they gave him the licence to lord it over everyone, especially the non-Malays. Everywhere he went, especially in villages and towns, Malays flocked to meet him. This still happens today.

The Malays who were young during Mahathir’s time are now in their twilight years. Many still remember his negative traits, just as they remember that he did some good, was able to “think big”, and dared to clip the wings of the royal families. Businessmen understood that nothing happened without political patronage.

Today, the children of people who were teenagers in Mahathir’s time remember the grand projects, the highways, heavy industries like Proton, and skyscrapers dominating the Kuala Lumpur skyline. Those who benefited from the system got rich quick and never looked back.

The grandchildren of the young adults of Mahathir’s time see Mahathir as the architect of modern Malaysia. Suria KLCC and the grand buildings in Putrajaya are a mecca for them. They identify the Twin Towers with Mahathir.

The kampung folk with their Protons praise Mahathir for giving them access to car ownership, a means of transport and a form of recognition. The people of Langkawi praise him for putting the island on the world map, and they adore the giant eagle, another brainchild of Mahathir.

For Annuar to claim that Mahathir did not command Malay support is a manipulation of the truth. He said, “The Malays who follow PAS have for a long time rejected Mahathir.”

Annuar is wrong. Malays who follow PAS simply preferred the party’s former spiritual leader, the late Nik Aziz, not necessarily because they rejected Mahathir.

Annuar also said, “The Malays who did support him (Mahathir) were those who supported him because of his Umno-ness, not his Mahathir-ness.”

Mahathir created the new party, Umno-Baru, in the constitutional crisis of 1988. Over the years, Umno-Baru became synonymous with Mahathir, and the party quietly dropped the “Baru” from Umno-Baru.

Successive generations of Malays are beholden to Mahathir.

Today, Malays like Annuar hold positions of power because of Mahathir. Annuar seems to have forgotten this.

Mariam Mokhtar is an FMT columnist.