YOURSAY 'Why do we need an Arab spring when we have our own monsoons to cleanse Malaysia of unscrupulous politicians?'

Dr M confident Arab Spring won't reach M'sia

your say Pemerhati: Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who was allowed to become a Malay by the constitution, played the race and religious card to the hilt to fool the Malays so as to remain in power and rob the country blind.

During his 22-year premiership, he set up a system of governance which according to the 2008 Auditor General's Report resulted in estimated losses as high as RM28 billion due to corruption.

By 2011, they are likely to be significantly higher and could have reached the RM40-50 billion figure.

Add to this the crooked deals by the top BN people the AG does not get to audit (like Mahathir's crooked 30% IPP deal and kickbacks on contracts and purchases), the total 2011 losses due to corruption could be in the RM50-60 billion range.

Malaysia's 2011 budget figures state that the total revenue for 2011 was RM183 billion. That means that BN and their cohorts are stealing about a third of the country's revenue, thanks to a system set in place by Mahathir.

Knowing all this, are the Malays still going to vote for BN?

Malaysian Born: Dr M is actually right, Malaysia is not a candidate for an Arab spring-type revolt. This does not mean that there will not be large rallies and that the people will defy the government attempts to suppress their efforts to get the message across.

In Malaysia, we do not have the poverty and inequalities like in certain parts of the Arab world. But we do have enough problems that need to be addressed.

Mahathir would not survive in today's environment - his mouth would have caused terminal uproar and the social media would have neutered him, and he would have used the ISA on everyone, including the tea ladies.

Mirror On The Wall: The Arab Spring was only possible because of the homogeneity of societies there. We, however much we would like to believe it to be so, are simply a plural society.

The only thing keeping us together is our total dislike for the BN. I doubt if this force is sufficient enough to lead to a Arab Spring in Malaysia. I hope I am wrong.

Rick Teo: Don't be so sure that the Arab Spring will not reach Malaysia. Mahathir was lucky to step down, if not he would have been kicked out by our Malaysian spring.

But the job is not done yet. When Pakatan Rakyat takes over Putrajaya, we want Mahathir and all Umno ministers to account where and how they have accumulated their wealth.

We want them and their family to account for every cent they have taken from the country or they will go to prison.

Anonymous_VV: Let Anwar Ibrahim be PM for one term and let us see what he can do for Malaysia. If he and his coalition can do well for the rakyat, then let him continue, otherwise the people can always vote BN back.

Cala: Mahathir's view is erroneous. Strictly speaking, he is talking as an interested party, one who has enormous interests through his years of efforts in promoting cronyism and rent- seeking activities as prime minister of 22 years.

While he and cohorts continue to enjoy their ‘hard fought' wealth, naturally he preferred stability/status quo over everything thing else. If change is something inevitable where listening to the ‘rakyat' takes precedence, he wishes that it is more evolutionary than evolutionary in nature.

But by looking at the way Najib dishes out concessionary measures one after another for fear of losing in the coming GE, it points to an ailing regime fighting for survival. Indeed, Mahathir is in denial.

Anticommunalist: The fact that the term ‘Arab Spring' is now openly being mentioned at the Umno AGM as well as by Dr M, and knowing how well-informed the regime's Special Branch intelligence officers on the ground, one can safely deduce that the government is very well aware that the chances of an Arab Spring threat happening in Malaysia is becoming more and more of a reality.

Blind Freddo: Why are we calling the Malaysian situation an Arab Spring? We are not Arabs, even if we are ruled like them. Haven't Malaysians got enough get-up-and-go to create their own Spring.

The poor deluded old man, he still thinks that every time he opens his mouth the whole of Malaysia rolls over to get its tummy scratched.

Clearwater: Why do we need an Arab spring when we have our own monsoons to cleanse Malaysia of unscrupulous politicians? If monsoons can't do it, there's always the more destructive tsunami.

Swipenter: Spring is already here. I can smell it.

My Thor: A slight portion of Arab Spring had landed in Malaysia in 2008, but it had not dented Umno-BN's governmen,t which survived the impact due to Mahathir's earlier preparation for onslaught.

Being a cunning premier for the past 22 years, no opposition within or outside is a match for him till today even though he had retired as PM.

Mahathir had succeeded in building a strong fortress with his BTN (Biro Tatanegara) ideologies, armed forces, police, judiciary, SPR (Election Commission), civil service, billionaire cronies and BN component parties who are still loyal to him.

Kanninneh: I love reading all the comments posted here in Malaysiakini even though I am faraway in Vancouver.

Malaysians are increasingly aware that they have been taken for a ride by the Umno regime for far too long and the time has come for them to kick out Umno in the coming 13GE for the betterment of the country.

I hope Mahathir and the Umno delegates will read the comments posted here Well done, Malaysiakini commentators/readers.

Bluemountains: Mahathir declared that "the Arab Spring will not reach our shore" just to console himself.

As a matter of fact, he is the most worried person in the country when, not if, Arab Spring arrives. He should know why.

 

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