Mahiaddin has lost control of the runaway train

 

Mahiaddin Yassin's tenure can be described in three words - hypocrisy, corruption and fear.

Hypocrisy because he claimed from the beginning that he wanted to "save" Malaysia. The reality is that despite emergency rule, where he had the power to push through all his policies without any scrutiny, he more or less destroyed Malaysia, dented our confidence and left us helpless.

His ministers were hand-picked to promote his Malayness, but they proved to be just another bunch of self-serving men and women. They invaded our private lives and dictated what we could and could not do during this pandemic. Most of us sacrificed a lot to keep the disease at bay but his hypocritical ministers ignored the rules they set for us.

It is alleged that 100,000 small and medium-sized enterprises have been forced to shut down. Overnight, people became unemployed and some employers asked their workers to go on six months unpaid leave. Despite having no business, these companies still had to pay business rates, rents, permits, fees and other expenses.

The same goes for their employees. Many have depleted their savings but the house, car and educational loans must still be paid.

Over in Putrajaya, the 70 ministers and their deputies are still in full-time employment, enjoy their full pay and perks, and are allowed to travel overseas.

Last year, a Malay man told me to give Mahiaddin a chance. Today, I wonder if he will reflect on the mess which his idol, Mahiaddin, has created in Malaysia.

Mahiaddin probably thought his career had peaked last year, when he was given the mandate to rule, by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. We did not elect Mahiaddin and never will.

Mahiaddin's proclamation that Malaysia had the best education system in the world was the final nail in the credibility coffin.

His assertion about Malaysian education does not gel with the fact that some politicians send their children overseas to study. Listening to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi delivering a speech, in English, at the United Nations and watching online school teachers teach English, is like listening to someone grating their nails across a blackboard. All are products of Malaysian education.

As far as many of us are concerned, the Agong made Mahiaddin PM so he can also rescind that decision.

They prevaricate over the word "soon" and gamble with peoples' lives. They try to convince one another about reconvening Parliament soon, in the midst of people dying, more being made homeless, others losing their savings and desperate people taking their own lives. The nation is on its knees.

It is doubtful if any of the élites know the true suffering of the people. Friends who are involved in social work have spoken of increased cases of domestic violence, and mental health issues, even amongst young children, isolation of the elderly, and bodies allegedly piling up in crematoriums, not of deaths from coronavirus, but from suicide.

Maggi stunt

Late week, an aid worker said that one eight-month-old baby was fed kopi-o (coffee without milk and sugar) because the family could not afford infant formula and the mother is too malnourished to produce breast milk.

Some cabinet members think that pulling a publicity stunt like eating Maggi instant noodles is a good way to show empathy with the poor. Their portion of noodles is enlivened with slices of meat, sauces and vegetables.

I know of one family whose daily hot meal is a packet of Maggi. Their two young children share the noodles, the parents consume the soup. Other families claim that they are better off than most because they can cook rice and eat it with salt.

These people have now been helped by teams from MakanKongsi 2.0, and two 'angels of mercy' - 'Ms Cyndi' who distributes food to the homeless and destitute in Petaling Street and 'En Faiz', a social activist who volunteers in the deprived parts of Ipoh.

Meanwhile, we read about MPs attending durian festivals, and after their photos went viral, they deny they had flouted SOP rules.

We recall the parliamentary snack of lobster and other treats last year, soon after Azhar Azizan Harun, the speaker made his debut in Parliament.

The economics minister, Mustapa Mohamad, fondly known as Tok Pa, was the latest minister to flout the SOPs rules. He apologised when photographs of him eating went viral. They openly flout the rules they made for us but think a 'I'm sorry' will suffice.

Ordinary Malaysians are ruled by fear. Anyone who questions and criticises the government is hauled to a police station. Even if they are artists or cartoonists.

Malaysians who venture out in search of work, to pay for food, are accused of flouting the rules. They are punished with hefty fines or are jailed. They can barely afford the petrol to find the soup kitchens so what makes the government think they can afford the fines?

Mahiaddin has no option now but to resign. He should have gone ages ago but to be truthful he should not have been installed as prime minister. He may have a few days reprieve whilst he recovers from his alleged bout of diarrhoea. Or was that a ruse to buy more time?

In the saga of the runaway train, Mahiaddin and his ministers are in the first-class carriage enjoying their lobster and durian. The train is hurtling towards an abyss but they are oblivious to the imminent doom that awaits them. The rakyat, stuck in the cattle trucks, can only sit and wait.

Mahiaddin thought he could handle the runaway train, but he has lost control. There is a way to stop the train, but Mahiaddin and his aides are either too dense or too proud to think about it. He only has to apply the brakes, to stop Malaysia careering out of control, but will he? - Mkini

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MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.