Statesman must keep dignity and reputation

TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad served at the helm of this nation for 22 long years. And throughout his tenure, we stood by him through thick and thin. The cornerstone that held us together was that singular mind to take the nation forward given the trust of the rakyat. We stood loyally with our leader.

And who does not know what Dr Mahathir would do, and indeed did, to those who crossed his path?

History has a clear record of how every potential leader who could have continued the journey wearing the hat of premiership fell.

Tun Ghafar Baba, Tun Musa Hitam, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi – these men were the casualties of Dr Mahathir’s grip on power.

But today when he keeps hammering out statements and writings that do not speak well of true statemanship as he guns down Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, he should be mindful of two truths.

One, he has betrayed all of us who stood by him throughout his 22 long years as PM. If we stand by Najib, who is our current PM, it is because we learnt it the hard way from Dr Mahathir.

Two, he must know he is not, by virtue of his dictatorial rule, the ultimate king-maker for the rakyat.

The voting population cast their precious votes and they will not let a once-upon-a-time PM continue to hack and derail a legitimate PM as he has done in the past to so many.

Truly, as any religion or for that matter any philosopher or conscious civil society leader anywhere in the pages of humanity’s struggles against the many odds have vouched, a statesman or an elder in society must not only earn but also learn to keep his dignity and reputation. Sadly, that is not what we are witnessing with Dr Mahathir. Today, his language and actions clearly show a bitter and beaten man at war.

Fortunately for him and his blinded loyalists, Najib does not practise any traits of Machiavellian politics. Otherwise the price that would be paid by some would probably be in the likes of that unforgettable Ops Lalang.

Dr Mahathir, let the truth be told. And telling the truth even if it hurts is not being disrespectful. If not for politics, do it at least for all our young children.

Stop calling people, especially Najib our current leader, names and disgusting terms.

Every leader has a right and a duty to perform and deliver according to his or her promises. It cannot always be your way.

TAN SRI M. KAYVEAS