IN RESPONSE TO JOHN MALOTT’S ABSOLUTE CRITICISMS

It is amazing that there was no exodus of Libyans during Gaddafi’s ‘terrible’ rule. It probably was terrible, but their problems were urged to be solved in the manner it was by do-gooders like yourself too.

Umar Mukhtar

I do not for one minute doubt the affinity that John Malott, the former United States ambassador to Malaysia, has for Malaysia and Malaysians. Perhaps his observations of Malaysia today could very well be right.

Still, those are his perspectives, no matter how sincere he was in articulating them. And I will remind myself that he is a foreigner and therefore holds no stake here and can never feel the way I do about my country, its future and my children and grandchildren who will live here.

Is Malaysia now a police state? Perhaps many Malaysians agree to that. The way the millions of Egyptians thought of Egypt under Mubarak, or Libyans thought of Gaddafi and Iraqis thought of Saddam Hussein, to name a few tyrants.

Assume that Malaysians live in a police state. So what do we do? Have an uprising so that we can exchange it for an unknown that could be much worse? If the answer is that straightforward, then why are our elder statesmen seem to be keeping quiet? Therein is your answer.

It is not that straightforward to us who live here, and who will never be like those pathetic asylum-seekers dying crossing the Mediterranean illegally to live in your democracies. It is amazing that there was no exodus of Libyans during Gaddafi’s ‘terrible’ rule. It probably was terrible, but their problems were urged to be solved in the manner it was by do-gooders like yourself too.

Perhaps that is why our elder statesmen are taking a bit of time to think of solutions our way. Be mindful of us, the stakeholders. The solutions may not be perfect by your standards. But solve them we will. In due course. In fact, you dared not suggest the actions we should take. Which was considerate of you. But running us down as oblivious fools was not. Outsiders smoke cigars.

We are very much aware of the economic and financial impacts of the present political turmoil. Perhaps recognising that there is a problem is a good start. There is definitely something rotten in the state of Malaysia. Neither is it nobler in our state of mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortunes. But we are not sleeping. No sir!

Our condemnations are not as absolute as yours. This ship I share with other Malaysians is still floating. For better or for worse. We cannot afford that one wrong move that may cause it to sink, to your patronising satisfaction. There are saving features to our present way of life which we are not discarding in the rubbish bin. There are flaws to your way of thinking which we are not debating.

So we are cowards. For the sake of those who come after us who may think of better ways which we are not able to. Tyrants come a dime a dozen, anywhere. It is tough now when government institutions, and checks and balances, have been destroyed by the very people who now purport to want to save it. So we have to look hard, think hard and maybe, be hard.

Thank you, sir, for your concern but there are Malay sayings, “Jangan macam tikus membaiki labu” and“Berat-berat mata memandang, berat lagi bahu memikul” which your Malaysian friends, who love this country, can explain to you the meanings of, hopefully. Basically, there is no Malaysian spring, and we remain optimistic in spite of your grim verdict. Thank you, anyway.