IN management the principle holds that the CEO never interferes in the internal affairs of departments even if the managers are virtually “killing” their subordinates.
Likewise, former Interim Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad must learn to let go, move on, never look back even if the sky falls down.
Life is an experience. Being Prime Minister isn’t the be all and end all of life.
Malaysia is no longer Mahathir’s problem and every generation has the right to rule itself.
Today, Mahathir has become part of the problem in Malaysian politics, indeed perhaps even the main problem.
Mahathir perhaps continues to belabour in the delusion that he’s the only solution. He can only claim that dubious privilege as an immortal.
The seeds of the current disorientation, confusion and chaos in the nation’s body politic arises from Mahathir’s long innings (from 1981 to 2003) as Prime Minister. He outstayed his welcome in the belief that it was good for the people.
Briefly put, the longer a Government stays in power and enforces a kind of artificial stability, the greater and more prolonged the instability when that Government finally goes.
It was theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Dr Stephen William Hawking who confirmed what the ancient Indians always thought: that the only predictable property of the universe is chaos.
The Government can always form the proposed National Recovery Council (NRC) as a Panel of subject matter experts to vet the National Recovery Plan (NRP) announced by Prime Minister Mahiaddin Yassin on June 15.
The NRC may assist the Cabinet in reducing politicking and help the people “live with the virus”.
There’s no reason why Mahathir, at 96 years old, should head the proposed National Recovery Council (NRC).
The NRC is an idea which Mahathir himself floated when he met the Agong in early June.
Earlier, he had written to the Agong on the state of the nation. That prompted the proactive head of state to meet with the heads of all parties which had seats in Parliament.
In hindsight, it appears that Mahathir never really retired in 2003 after 22 years in office and a long goodbye.
He clearly continued to work from behind the scenes against the Government.
That saw the departure of three prime ministers viz. Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on April 3, 2009 after nearly six years, Najib Abdul Razak on May 10, 2018 after nine years, and ironically, himself on Feb 24 last year.
He was Interim Prime Minister, at his insistence, from Feb 24 to Mar 1 when Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as the 8th Prime Minister.
Therein lies the problem for the Government as Mahathir has not made peace with himself, the people, and the universe. – July 17, 2021
Joe Fernandez is a long time Borneo watcher and a regular FocusM contributor.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
