Is Syed Saddiq Really A Crook?

 

Yes, Anwar needs to buy 30 MPs to topple Muhyiddin and he needs to spend not less than RM1 billion to do that. So you think Syed Saddiq is a crook? No, he is not a crook. He is just a politician. And in Malaysia, politicians need to spend huge sums of money to make the rakyat happy. If not, they will scream “Kerajaan Gagal!”

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The latest corruption and criminal breach of trust episode involving Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman leaves a very bad taste in the mouth. If one of the idols or icons of youth politics is also a crook, what about all the rest of Malaysia’s politicians?

When President Clinton was asked whether he had sex in the Oval Office, now renamed the Oral Office, he asked one very pertinent question. Define sex! Oral sex is not sex, by President Clinton’s definition.

In Syed Saddiq’s case we can pose that same question. Define corruption! What can be classified as corruption and what can be classified as ‘normal’ politics?

Okay, let me put it another way. The anti-government people say Malaysia is a “Failed State” or “Kerajaan Gagal”. Why is Malaysia a “Failed State” or “Kerajaan Gagal”?

Partly it is because of the haphazard way the government is handling the Covid-19 pandemic (which is the same in every country around the world), but mainly it is because of the financial problems the pandemic is causing (and the reluctance of the government to grant moratoriums on loans, to allow withdrawals from EPF savings, to introduce stimulus and aid packages, etc).

In short, partly it is about lives but mainly it is about livelihoods. What’s the point of saving lives if people’s livelihoods suffer? People would rather go out to work and risk getting Covid-19 than stay home and be safe but go hungry.

The anti-government people say many Malaysians have committed suicide (and they blame Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the Perikatan Nasional government for these suicides).

Why have they committed suicide? Because they have Covid-19? No, not because they have Covid-19 but because they have no money.

Yes, they would rather die (whether from Covid-19 or from their own hands) than have no money. Money is more important than life. Between life and money they choose money. Never mind that religion classifies suicide as a sin. They will not eat pork or drink beer, but they will commit suicide even if all are sins.

In short, money talks, bullshit walks. And politicians need to play money or else just take a walk. And that is why politicians such as Syed Saddiq need to look for money, whether by hook or by crook, to play politics.

Nobody, I repeat, nobody can play politics without money. And you need millions. So how do you get these millions? From your savings? From your inheritance which your millionaire daddy left you? No way, Jose. You need to scam to get these millions.

Do we blame politicians for being corrupt? Are Malaysian politicians by nature all born crooks? Do only crooks enter politics or become politicians?

No, it is not the fault of the politicians. It is the fault of the rakyat. If you do not spread money around, they will curse you and condemn you and say, “Kerajaan Perikatan Nasional kerajaan gagal.” Politicians need to tabur money to make the rakyat happy. And if you are not born with millions, then you need to find it, one way or another.

Anwar spent RM500 million (RM200 million in Sabah alone) to become the Deputy Prime Minister in 1993. How much do you think he needs to spend today if he wants to topple Muhyiddin and take over as PM9?

Billions! Yes, billions. And where do you think these billions will come from? From his salary?

Muhyiddin Yassin is too strong to topple. Just on so-called “perjuangan” alone you cannot topple Muhyiddin. You need to buy off at least 30 members of parliament to topple the PM.

DAP’s Hee Yit Foong, a mere ADUN, cost RM25 million to buy back in 2008. How much do you think an MP will cost today, 13 years later — especially when it is not just to topple a state government but the federal government?

Yes, Anwar needs to buy 30 MPs to topple Muhyiddin and he needs to spend not less than RM1 billion to do that. So you think Syed Saddiq is a crook? No, he is not a crook. He is just a politician. And in Malaysia, politicians need to spend huge sums of money to make the rakyat happy. If not, they will scream “Kerajaan Gagal!”

Malaysians demand money. When you do not give them money, they curse you and condemn you and scream “Kerajaan Gagal!” Then when the politicians find the money, you arrest them and charge them for being crooks. No wonder Malaysians are so backward.