Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Lobby

by Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
www.chedet.com

1. In some ways Malaysia is ahead of some developed countries in the appreciation of what is right and what is wrong.
2. In the United States lobbying is permitted and honourable. Many famous figures, especially former members of the Government have firms which offer lobbying services.
3. Foreign countries, including Malaysia find this service very convenient. We lobbied for some favourable policy to be shown for palm oil, tin and rubber imports into the United States for example.
4. Independent think tanks can lobby for their ideas on foreign policy like the New American Century to be made the foreign policy of the United States. They were successful and a million Iraqis died as a result.
5. Before Castro the Cuban Lobby ensured that sugar produced by Cuba would be imported into the United States. Now an anti-Castro Cuban Lobby ensures that Cuban sugar is banned in the United States.
6. All these lobbyings are legitimate. You pay the lobbyists a fee (which need not be revealed) and they will lobby for whatever you want them to lobby.
7. In Malaysia we do not have professional lobbyist. But we also do not have a law against lobbying. Nor do we specify what constitute lobbying; which kind would be permissible and which would not.
8. But now we have apparently decided that lobbying is a crime and those who lobby or who are lobbied are criminals. I say, syabas Kerajaan you have made Malaysia more honourable than the United States.
9. Prime Ministers and Ministers and just about anyone with any influence or authority in Government are continuously approached to back someone or something. They may be asked to write letters in support of something or someone.
10. I should also mention Deputy Prime Ministers. They too are lobbied by a whole lot of people. I did not think they were doing something wrong.
11. But supposing a Deputy Prime Minister writes a letter of recommendation for his sister-in-law to an official or minister of another country who could be expected to take a serious view of the recommendation because the writer is a Deputy Prime Minister of a friendly country and the recommendation is for his sister-in-law, does this constitute lobbying, or corruption or abuse of power. We need to know so that such letters of recommendation would not be written again. We need to know if they were written before, can action be taken against them now since we are now taking action on things which happened in the past. By being very clear about the past, the present and the future Malaysia would become highly regarded as the epitome of righteousness and the practitioners of the rule of law.


tunku : what about lobbying oil for food contract for your sister in-law? that is a good one Tun.Keep pushing.

1 comment:

whackthembugger said...

If I get Tun correct

1. There’s nothing wrong with lobbying because it’s a standard or accepted international practice. Any Ahmad, Ah Kow and Thamby would agree with Mahathir especially when it’s done in the best interest of our country like favorable policies for our commodity products. Who was at the Spinning Wheel –DSAI, a former top insider in the Government? Ugh what a chameleon this DSAI, a traitor to the nation will always remain one; a leopard will not change its spots.

2. The price of lobbying is secret – who leaked it out? Must be the same traitor. This is the same person Guan Eng wants to share his bed with. And Azmin Ali, haven’t you had enough?

3. The Deputy Prime Minister using his influence to lobby in favor of his sister-in -law – sounds like our PM, family interest always before the Nation. No wonder the shit type of governance we have to-day. Ever wondered why the opposition boys regard him as the golden goose. Come on MT and UMNO members, still can’t open up your eyes or mouth still? Time for action, follow Tun’s message, and leave UMNO until PM resigns.

4. The future Malaysia; the epitome of righteousness and the practitioners of the rule of law – Nay, know what happens when you give a beautiful scented rose to a group of monkeys and King Kongs guised in the band of PKR, DAP and those advocating populist reforms in UMNO. Nay this band of monkeys is good for “pisang awak” standard and that also after filling their tummies they leave the scene in a mess. This is the apex of the idealisma of reformasi of crooked politicians and we should loathe such foolish ideals especially concocted to oppress the righteous.


I look forward to more explosive exposures from Tun, our National Hero under siege.