YOURSAY | 'Instead of investigating the contents of Thomas' memoir, the authorities are probing him.'

Johor police receive 16 reports against Tommy Thomas

FairMalaysian: I am concerned. I am frightened. I am shocked. I feel ruined. I am so many things today but mostly it is because of the negativity that has embraced this country.

First, there was a call from the cabinet for an RCI (royal commission of inquiry) on the judiciary to be held. The PM has been delegated the job to get that done. He requests the AG to prepare the groundwork. The AG selects the judges and the prosecutors for the job and notifies the PM of what he had done for the RCI to proceed.

Hereafter, it is the PM's job - to get the royal assent, etc. Then comes the bombshell - that both serving and retired judges are apparently against it. The PM then tells the AG to leave it to him to handle the matter. Apparently, that was the last the AG heard from the PM on this matter.

When I first read into this explosive account, the first thing that raced in my mind - why are judges against the RCI? Wouldn't it be the best platform to clear the name of the judiciary? Why did the PM back out despite the cabinet's positive stand on this matter?

If it was a cabinet initiative, did the cabinet follow up on this matter? Did the PM brief the cabinet of the resistance from the judges? Or did the cabinet push for the RCI despite the PM's reluctance?

Obviously, this saddened me. We elected a government with "reforms" as the main theme. It cannot come as a surprise that the man who was supposed to take it forward backed out – yes, he had a history in his dealings with the judiciary and it was not a good one.

But what about the other ministers in the cabinet? They had let us down big time, didn’t they? They have brought shame. They could have made the RCI happen.

It was a gripping feeling that collectively they, the cabinet, have "conspired" to thwart the effort of a lone judge who was courageous enough to take a stand on something he believed was not right. He may or may not have told the truth and that would be the work of the intended RCI to find out.

These bunch of unworthy Humpty Dumpties led that judge down and led all of us down, too. What then these bunch of imbeciles understand by the word "reform"? I feel very repulsive when they talk about how they lost their "jobs".

Even if the government had fallen because of their stand against the PM on this matter, I would have been proud of them and would have still voted for them because they dared to stand on the side of the people, but instead, they stood on the side of the "devil".

Would I have to sell my soul to vote for them again?

BusinessFirst: When the late Lee Kuan Yew wrote his memoirs and touched on Malaysia, he raised many of the issues that have been raised in former attorney-general Tommy Thomas' book that goes to the gist of what he saw as Malaysia's problems.

Protests, etc, were held, threats to turn off the water to Singapore were made, but I suppose since Singapore is a sovereign country and is armed to the teeth, it stopped there.

Then we fast forward to Robert Kuok's book. Again, the hue and cry. The poor man giving good advice on how we can move forward naturally offended the lazy and corrupt.

Yet what he says is true, is it not - if you spoil and give one son, he will grow up to have a dependent mentality with a sense of self-entitlement. The other son (or daughter) who is left to fend for himself (or herself) grows stronger and resilient.

Just ask yourself, can you name, after 60 years, three bumiputera companies that have made a name for themselves internationally and not government-based, like Petronas? Grab, Top Glove, AirAsia are not founded by bumiputeras. Why?

Yet, are bumiputeras less talented? No. Then logic dictates that for the last 60 years, something has been holding them back. Bad politics and bad policies like Donald Trump that brings out the worst in people, that is what.

It appears the only thing that can be written are the “glories” of this country. Like how a certain director-general is top three and should get some UN/WHO post. I would add more, but it is hard to name our “glories”.

So, it must surely be galling that Malaysia is known for 1MDB, the institutionalised discrimination against minorities, the failure to ratify International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) or the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Worse, all these have made them so thin-skinned because so much power is concentrated among a certain community that in reality, the buck stops there. Who else can they blame that is believable? DAP? Chinese? Indians? Ibans? Sabahans? Christians? Hindus? Buddhists? USA? Israel? UK? India? LTTE? CCP? George Soros? Anwar Ibrahim? Pakatan Harapan? Warisan?

Personally, I blame Singapore. When Singapore left, it is inevitable that comparisons would be made between Malaysia and Singapore. I believe that our Malaysian politicians, starting with Dr Mahathir Mohamad, would not be so thin-skinned had Singapore been a dismal failure.

They can then feel good about themselves to say, ‘look, we are not so bad’. We are talented people. Alas, Singapore is another world - respected and wealthy, everything Umno/BN promised us but woefully failed to deliver.

Into this inferiority complex comes Thomas' book. So like bullies, we see the same threats, police reports made and calls to ban the book. Why? Because in Malaysia today, serious discussion of the problems we face is not welcomed. Only praise, and if you cannot do that, then keep quiet or leave.

Which is why Thomas' book is such a surprise. Many keep quiet. Some leave. Very few dare to write what Thomas has written.

Vijay47: With brilliant comments in their captivating language from many, especially BusinessFirst and FairMalaysian, there is nothing much I can add to the observations and sentiments already expressed.

All I can ask is: What? Only 16 reports?

Cogito Ergo Sum: The more police reports, the merrier is it? Instead of investigating the contents of the memoir, the authorities are probing the writer. It’s like investigating the rape victim after a police report was made instead of looking into the complaint.

We seem to have got it all wrong and no expose that shows up the corruption and incompetence of the system is going to go down well with those still clinging on to power.

Police reports seem to be a convenient excuse to pressure and threaten those who are the subject of such. We seem to lack common sense and common decency.

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