I refer to the Malaysiakini report Mahathir - 'Father of all racism' .

How will Malaysian history remember Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s tenure and his contributions as Malaysia’s fourth prime minister given the current controversies such as the Biro Tata Negara?

Now, the idea of the establishment of the Perdana Leadership Foundation is a noble one. As stated in its website , PLF intends to become ‘the premier institution for the study of Malaysia’s prime ministers and the central resource centre for research into national stewardship as well as a platform for reflection, debate, and discussion with distinguished figures in Malaysian leadership.’

However, one wonders if the appointment of the former prime minister (Mahathir) as the foundation’s honourary president will compromise the independence and objectivity of the research into the study of Malaysia’s former prime ministers?

What would Mahathir’s towering influence, for example, be on the study of his own contributions as prime minister, as well as on his nemeses Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tunku Abdul Rahman?

How would history remember, for example, Mahathir’s role in the Biro Tata Negara according to the foundation’s research?

Would it not be better to appoint a professionally independent person to head the Perdana Leadership Foundation as honourary president so that what is written about Malaysia’s former prime ministers will be objective, independent, unbiased and accurate?

Is there not a need for a thorough review of the studies done so far on Malaysia’s former prime ministers?