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| PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim delivers his speech in Kota Baru, on Sept 27, 2018. — Bernama Stop pitting me against Mahathir: Anwar Posted on 27 September 2018 - 08:08am Last updated on 27 September 2018 - 01:02pm KUALA TERENGGANU: PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged the people to refute the negative assumption and presumption regarding his relations with Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Anwar said he was incapable of refuting all such rumours and hoped that his determination to be together with the Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders in giving their trust to Dr Mahathir would continue to get the support, especially among PKR members. "I made the decision to be together with the PKR and PH leadership, the (national) problem being faced is massive and we are unable to face (it) if there are problems facing the PH leadership. So, we should let the present government to be strong and only under the (leadership of) a firm prime minister can the major problem such as the 1MDB be resolved … for more, go to http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/09/27/stop-pitting-me-against-mahathir-anwar |
This is why we are proud to be Malaysians again!
At 93, Malaysia’s comeback premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad (Dr M) had at the recently-concluded UN General Assembly displayed he had lost none of his political wits and leadership.
Disgraced former premier Najib Razak is nothing compared with Dr M. In terms of oratory and international public relations, perhaps PKR president Anwar Ibrahim is arguably a close second to Dr M.
At the assembly, Dr M showed to world leaders that he is still a witty and competent international politician that he was in the 20th Century.
Of course, like all humans, he has his shortcomings and weaknesses in management skills, thus making mistakes in some of his decisions.
But Dr M’s competency and commitment to lead Malaysians on the right path to a bright future for Malaysia are generally acknowledged - that is why the majority of the rakyat (people) finally found their courage to give the corrupt-to-the-core Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government the boot after 60 years in the May 9 14th General Election (GE14).
Dr M has been reiterating that he will stick to the Pakatan Harapan (PH) agreement that Anwar succeeds him as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Why then the intense politicking to demonise Anwar, after a 20-year battle to free him as a political prisoner?
Read this AP report and others to find out why we are proud to be Malaysians again, and why we must not let the corrupt BN leaders to return until they are completely reformed politically from racial and religious extremism:
"Dr Mahathir, the 'patron saint of political comebacks'
NATION
Friday, 28 Sep 2018
8:23 AM MYT
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| In this Aug 20, 2018 file photo, Dr Mahathir speaks to reporters during a news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. - (How Hwee Young/Pool Photo via AP, File) |
The 93-year-old once and current Prime Minister of Malaysia wobbled a bit as he clasped the railing, cautiously mounted the four stairs leading to the stage in the bowels of the Asia Society and shuffled over to the podium.
Then Dr Mahathir, called a strongman by his critics so often that he has a joke ready about it, faced the packed auditorium. He smiled broadly and began talking. And the years, maybe even a decade or two, seemed to melt away.
First came the speech: 20 minutes without a single note, relying on the wealth of experience that led one audience member to address him as "the elder statesman of Asia _ actually, the elder statesman of the planet."
But the Prime Minister had only just begun.
Dr Mahathir, attending the U.N. General Assembly this week as Malaysia's leader for the first time in nearly a generation, cracked jokes that drew genuine belly laughs from the capacity audience. He rattled off figures related to debt and spending and demonstrated a fluency with government and international policies that dates back decades.
He converted currencies on the fly. He spoke with ease about the importance of social media in his upset win in May elections that led to the nation's first change of party power since independence from Britain in 1957.
After more than an hour of back and forth with the audience, he looked disappointed that it had ended. His demeanour was that of a man who relished returning to a job he never expected to have again.
Asked about his physical and political stamina, he said: "I don't really know." He acknowledged two heart operations and the occasional cough, "but I have my doctor following me everywhere I go."
All the while, he tapped into a deep vein of knowledge and experience won from being a high-level political player in Asia and the world for the last seven decades.
Though he dodged the occasional thorny topic - a question about gay rights and child marriage in Malaysia, for instance - he deftly handled almost everything thrown at him.
He talked about what it was like for countries other than China and the United States to be caught in the middle of the behemoths' growing trade war (uncomfortable). He spoke of the absolute necessity of free sea passage so that Malaysia can pursue its trading lifeblood, and of the region's disputes with China over control of the South China Sea.
Asked about Chinese President Xi Jinping's hallmark "Belt and Road Initiative" to build ports, highways and other trade-related infrastructure, Dr Mahathir said he had long ago suggested the rail part of it. He'd proposed that Beijing build a railway line with bigger, longer trains from China to the West: "The idea is not new to us."
His remarks were peppered with jokes. The funniest one - "I have been known as a dictator, but I don't think any dictator would have resigned" - was so good he used it twice, and some of the jokes had the feeling of being well-worn campaigning set pieces.
But unlike a lot of politician's attempts at humour, they worked - repeatedly - and he drew energy as his moments in command of the stage passed. A smattering of his quips:
- On what he said was the previous government's slogan, "Cash is King": It's "practically admitting to the world that bribery is OK."
- On US President Donald Trump: "We are still trying to figure out what is it that the president of the United States wants, because sometimes he changes his mind three times a day."
- On whether Malaysia would one day allow dual citizenship: "Well, we think you should make up your mind."
He focused on Malaysia's corruption problem, which he almost entirely blamed on the government that he drove from power in May.
Dr Mahathir's designated successor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and Dr Mahathir put aside their 20-year-old political feud to help their alliance win those elections.
Dr Mahathir rose again to Prime Minister amid anger over a massive corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund, which is under investigation in the United States and other countries for allegations of cross-border embezzlement and money laundering. Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, 65, has accused Dr Mahathir's government of seeking political vengeance.
When Rudd asked impishly about when the next elections would be, Dr Mahathir seemed almost wistful. He smiled and said, "five years from now."
But this time, the man who has lived through nearly a century hastened to add, he plans to retire for good. - AP/The Star Online
Rudd: Mahathir is patron saint of political comebacks
NATION
Saturday, 29 Sep 2018
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However, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s political comeback was what impressed most of the influence-shapers, including world and business leaders, who attended the meetings and dialogue sessions, featuring the Malaysian Prime Minister.
Former Australian premier Kevin Rudd (pic), for example, bestowed Dr Mahathir with the title of “patron saint of political comebacks”.
Rudd, who chaired a dialogue session with Dr Mahathir at the Asia Society here, called the 93-year-old serving his second stint as Prime Minister, Malaysia’s new old and old new leader.
“Its a remarkable achievement and those of us in this region watched it very closely,” said Rudd.
A member of the audience referred Dr Mahathir, who holds the current Guinness record for oldest Prime Minister, as the “elder statesman of Asia ... actually, the elder statesman of the planet”, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.
At a dinner with the US-Asean Business Council and US Chamber of Commerce, an official, who introduced Dr Mahathir jokingly referred to his remarkable feat of serving twice as Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003 and since the May 9 polls.
“Ladies and gentlemen, let’s welcome Malaysia’s fourth and seventh Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad,” he said. - The Star Online
Dr M takes ‘New M’sia’ to world stage
Saturday, 29 Sep 2018
by razak ahmad
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| Voice of Malaysia: Dr Mahathir speaking during the General Debate of the 73rd session of the General Assembly at the United Nations in New York. — AFP |
Losing none of the outspoken nature that made him famous in his 22-year tenure as the country’s fourth Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir said small countries remained at the mercy of the powerful and repeated his call for reform of the UN.
“After 15 years and at 93, I return to this podium with the heavy task of bringing the voice and hope of the ‘New Malaysia’ to the world stage.
“The people of Malaysia, proud of their recent democratic achievement, have high hopes that around the world, we will see peace, progress and prosperity.
Dr Mahathir also outlined his vision for the “New Malaysia”.
He said the new government was committed to ensure every Malaysian has an equitable share in the prosperity and wealth of the nation.
Malaysians, he added, want a nation that upholds the principles of fairness, good governance, integrity and the rule of law.
“They want a Malaysia that is a friend to all and enemy of none. A Malaysia that remains neutral and non-aligned.”
Dr Mahathir said Malaysians want a nation that will speak its mind on what is right and wrong, without fear or favour.
The “New Malaysia”, said the Prime Minister, would firmly espouse the principles promoted by the UN in the country’s international engagements.
“These include the principles of truth, human rights, the rule of law, justice, fairness, responsibility and accountability, as well as sustainability.
“It is within this context that the new Government of Malaysia has pledged to ratify all remaining core UN instruments related to the protection of human rights,” he said.
But Dr Mahathir pointed out that the process would not be easy as Malaysia is multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-lingual.
“We will accord space and time for all to deliberate and to decide freely based on democracy,” he said.
In contrast to the optimism and hope in Malaysia’s future, Dr Mahathir’s assessment on the state of international affairs was bleak.
He said that when he last spoke in 2003, he had lamented how the world had lost its way.
“But today, 15 years later the world has not changed much. If at all, the world is far worse than 15 years ago.
“Today, the world is in a state of turmoil economically, socially and politically,” he said.
Referring to the trade war between US and China, Dr Mahathir said the rest of the world was feeling the pain.
He pointed out the hypocrisy of rich countries, preaching the importance of open markets while invading smaller countries with infant industries and their products.
The simple products of the poor are subjected to clever barriers so that they cannot penetrate the market of the rich, he said, citing the victimisation of Malaysia’s palm oil as an example.
Rich countries label Malaysian palm oil as dangerous to health and the habitat of animals while food products of the rich declare that they are palm oil free.
Palm diesel is also condemned for allegedly decimating virgin jungles.
Employing his trademark sarcasm, Dr Mahathir said: “These caring people forget that their boycott is depriving hundreds of thousands of people from jobs and a decent life.”
He defended Malaysia’s concern for the environment, pointing out that 48% of Malaysia remains virgin jungle.
The Prime Minister lamented a dangerous trend among countries leaning towards inward-looking nationalism, pandering to populism, retreating from international collaboration and restricting their borders.
“While globalisation has indeed brought us some benefits, the impacts have proven to be threatening to the independence of small nations,” he said.
Turning his attention to the UN and its roles, Dr Mahathir called for an end to the dominance in the world body of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, namely China, France, Russia, Britain and the US.
“Five countries on the basis of their victories (in World War Two) 70 over years ago, cannot claim to have a right to hold the world to ransom forever.
“They cannot take the moral high ground, preaching democracy and regime changes in the countries of the world when they deny democracy in this organisation.”
Dr Mahathir said he had suggested that the veto should not be by just one permanent member but by at least two powers backed by three non-permanent members of the council.
“The General Assembly should then back the decision with a simple majority. I will not say more,” said Dr Mahathir. - The Star Online"
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| Dr Mahathir with Fareed Zakaria after the Bloomberg Global Business Forum in New York. Dr Mahathir wows them all at business forum in New York NATION Thursday, 27 Sep 2018 8:44 AM MYT by razak ahmad NEW YORK: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s political comeback and his longevity wowed the speakers and moderator at the Bloomberg Global Business Forum 2018. The session held on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations here include Dr Mahathir and his counterparts from Holland, Mark Rutte, and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern as speakers. Rutte and Ardern were impressed by the response Dr Mahathir gave to a question by moderator Fareed Zakaria on his secret of staying healthy despite his age. “I do keep to a strict diet,” said Dr Mahathir. … for more, go to https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/09/27/dr-mahathir-wows-them-all-at-business-forum/ |
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