Nazri vs Dr M

• The BTN controversy

2009-12-09 12:08

• 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz criticised former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for having inconsistent words and deeds before and after his term of office. When he was in the office, he claimed himself as a Malaysian in order to gain the people's support but after his resignation, he has been speaking only for Malays. Once again, Nazri severely criticised Dr M as a “racist”.

Even though Dr M has abdicated, it seems like among UMNO ministers, only Nazri is courageous enough to offend Dr M like that.

Nazri and Dr M are like a pair of foes, although they are not having equal political status and prestige.

"He is courageous enough to say something that others do not dare to say."

I can still remember that after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced his new Cabinet's lineup, Dr M had bluntly criticised that two ministers were not appropriate for the positions, and Nazri was one of them. The other one was Deputy Agricuture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum.

I can't remember how Johari responded at that time. But I still clearly remember that Nazri had made a firece counterattack. He said it was a childish behaviour and severely criticised Dr M as a racist. He even gave Dr M an “advice” that “it is better for him to stay at home as the people no longer like him.”

This time, it is not surprising when they spit at each other again over the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) controversy.

BTN is a product from Dr M's era. Its racist training modules have long been heard. And now, even Malays can no longer tolerate it. They come forward to expose its ugliness. However, during the authoritarian era of Dr M, many people chose silent protest and dared not to say a word.

Politics will always be Dr M's favourite. He believes that his mission is not yet fulfilled and thus, even though he had stepped down, he still has endless to say. He writes books and blogs and gives public speeches to promote his “Mahathirism” that stresses on Malay supremacy. To him, BTN can really help him to complete the unfinished mission!

I don't agree with some points of Nazri, but he is “stunning” as he dares to admit that there is something wrong with the BTN training modules and does not agree that the course should be meant only to highlight Malay patriotism. He also thinks that it is ridiculous to mention about Malay supremacy in the course. He is courageous enough to say something that others do not dare to say.

Nazri, who even praised the Pakatan Rakyat government of Penang for committing in fighting corruption and promoting clean government, indeed shows better the independent thinking of the new generation of Malays compared to Dr M, who simply wants to defend the BTN. Nazri has also shown a more open mind.

In this case, I would like to give Nazri an applause. And I hope that his voice would not echo alone in UMNO and the Malay society.

As for Dr M, history will judge him fairly. (By LIM MUN FAH/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily)