Eric See
02-08-2005, 09:28 AM
Hi Guys,
Interesting reading to beat the Monday Blues...happy reading!
just sharing I recently received
Friday, July 29, 2005
Old soldiers never die; they just fade away
Raja Petra Kamarudin
And now, the end is near,
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived a life that's full,
I've travelled each and ev'ry highway.
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Regrets, I've had a few,
But then again, too few to mention.
I did, what I had to do,
And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course,
Each careful step along the byway.
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall,
And did it my way.
I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill, my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that,
And may I say, not in a shy way,
"No, oh no not me,
I did it my way".
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels,
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows,
And did it my way!
'My Way', by Frank Sinatra
Yes, My Way is Dr Mahathir Mohamad's favourite song. Of course, when he sang
it back then he was still the Prime Minister, so the lyrics was not as
appropriate then as it is now. Today, the lyrics fit Dr Mahathir as if they
had been written with him in mind.
Many at the peak of their careers say it is very lonely at the top. Dr
Mahathir, of all people, should know this, as he was at the top for more
than 22 years. But Dr Mahathir is rapidly discovering it can be even
lo nelier in the retirement years.
Umno supporters, warlords and wannabe leaders flock to those in power like
Blue Arse Flies to ****. But once the **** shrivels and dries up, the flies
move on to look for 'fresh' ****.
This is Umno culture -- or the culture in most political parties for that
matter.
Take Anwar Ibrahim as one example. When he was both Deputy Prime Minister
and Finance Minister it was almost impossible to meet him. When he was on
the way up it was not that difficult though, as not many were that
interested in him. I managed many a breakfast with him in his Bukit
Damansara home when he was still a 'nobody'. But once he made it, he
disappeared from my radar screen.
I remember a mutual friend, who I will only call by his pet name 'Non'
(pronounced 'norn'), who one day bumped into Anwar at the Ministry of
Finance in Jalan Duta.
"Raja Petra has not come to see me in more than three years," lamented Anwar
to Non.
I had in fact discussed this with Non earlier so he knew my sentiments on
the matter.
"Seeing you is impossible," replied Non. "It is easier to see the PM. And
you are not even the PM yet."
"Allah!" retorted Anwar, dragging the double 'L' in his usual 'trying to
sooth you' fashion.
But Non was not about to let Anwar get away with it. "With Eric Chia and
Vincent Tan lining up outside your office to see you, it is like trying to
take your medication from the government pharmacy," Non quipped. (And those
who have ever tried filling their prescription at the government pharmacy
would know what Non meant by this).
"Ah, don't talk like that," Anwar tried to pacify Non.
"Never mind, let all those people who didn't want to even know you when you
were nobody see you," added Non. "Once you have fallen from grace and none
of these people want to see you anymore, then we will come and see you."
Anwar was ap parently upset by this reply and I do think this was rather
pointed of Non. Then, a few months later, in September 1998, what Non said
did happen. And we went to see him again in spite of the fact we were very
critical of him.
Of course, the Eric Chias and Vincent Tans of the business world, and the
many corporate bosses who practically parked themselves outside Anwar's
office at the peak of his career, would not even dare whisper his name
anymore lest they be identified as 'Anwar's man', let alone go see him or
attend any of his trials.
Now that Anwar is free and there is every possibility, however remote it may
be, he may again ascend the ladder and walk through the corridors of power,
these people have returned as 'Anwar's man'. Of course, many do not dare
meet him openly lest he does not quite make it back. They would rather sneak
in through the kitchen in the darkness of night or meet him overseas beyond
the prying eyes of Malays ia's Special Branch.
Businessmen are gamblers by nature. You have to take risks in business, so
the gambling instinct has to be strong. And all 'good' gamblers place their
money on as many horses as they can in case the dark horse ends up the
winner. But that would be fine if the horse is running. If the horse is
idling in the stables then it would be futile to bet on it.
The question then would be: is Anwar a dark horse or one that has been put
out to pasture? According to Khairy Jamaluddin, Anwar's days are gone. But
in politics one never knows. Khairy has more than a decade to go before he
reaches the top slot and 24 hours is a long time in politics, as Anwar
himself has discovered.
Anyway, back to what we want to talk about today. Dr Mahathir's present
predicament can be regarded as poetic justice. What Anwar suffered all those
years since 1998, Dr Mahathir is just beginning to experience. And it is not
a nice feeling afte r holding court for 22 years with the court jesters
falling over each other racing to do your bidding.
When Anwar was first released on 2 September 2004, Khairy, Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law, said, now that Anwar is free, next will
be Dr Mahathir's turn to go to jail, followed by Daim, then Najib, then
Rosmah (Najib's wife), then Rafidah, then Megat Junid, then..." And he went
through the list of a dozen or so 'people at the top' who would in time take
Anwar's place in Sungai Buloh Prison.
Khairy was not making any idle threats here. It was a promise. And what
Khairy promises, Khairy delivers. You may hate him and think he is a young
upstart. You may even think he is pompous to boot. But credit must be given
where credit is due. And Khairy never fails to do what he sets out to do.
Today, Dr Mahathir is seeing his empire being dismantled piece by piece
before his very eyes. And it is agonising for him to wa tch this. But the
beautiful part about this whole thing is: he is taking International Trade
Minister Rafidah Aziz down with him. If Dr Mahathir can be cut down to size
and defanged, then Najib and his wife, Rosmah, can be neutralised as well;
for Najib is depending on the benevolence of the ex-Prime Minister to get
ahead. Megat Junid is a nonentity with Dr Mahathir neutered. This would
leave Daim Zainuddin totally isolated and exposed, a sitting duck waiting to
be plucked.
The AP issue is not just about abuse of power. It extends beyond that. The
AP issue is in fact not even an issue. It is a catalyst for bigger things to
come. One cannot blame Rafidah alone for the fiasco. After all, Dr Mahathir
was Prime Minister when APs became a gold mine. Prior to Dr Mahathir's
tenure, APs were not worth anything. And anyone who was a genuine car or
motorcycle importer could get them.
Suddenly, in the early 1980s, when Dr Mahathir took over as Prime Minister,
APs given to genuine importers were suddenly withdrawn and handed over to
members of an exclusive 'club'. And membership to this club depended on your
relationship with the powers-that-be.
I too used to have APs back in the mid-1970s when I held the import
franchise for Suzuki 250cc motorcycles (At that time no motorcycles above
200cc were assembled in Malaysia). Then, in the early 1980s, they were
withdrawn because it was reported I was a PAS supporter. I had to be an Umno
man before I could get APs. APs, therefore, are a reward scheme for loyal
Umno supporters and those who have served the party, plus a retirement
benefit for those who once held positions of power in party and government.
But why just look at car APs? Do you know motorcycle imports too need APs?
So do imports of many other items right down to Mandarin oranges from China.
Since we are 'auditing' car APs, why not look at the rest as well? Who are
the beneficiaries of these APs? You will be surprised to know that car APs
are just the tip of the iceberg. And you will be even more surprised when
you find out who the beneficiaries of all these other APs are.
We are about to see APgate of colossal proportions about to unfold before
our very eyes. Now that we APpreciate the value or car APs, it is time to
comprehend the broad spectrum of the AP racket and in what way that simple
piece of paper can put even Midas to shame.
Interesting reading to beat the Monday Blues...happy reading!
just sharing I recently received
Friday, July 29, 2005
Old soldiers never die; they just fade away
Raja Petra Kamarudin
And now, the end is near,
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I'll say it clear,
I'll state my case, of which I'm certain.
I've lived a life that's full,
I've travelled each and ev'ry highway.
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Regrets, I've had a few,
But then again, too few to mention.
I did, what I had to do,
And saw it through without exemption.
I planned each charted course,
Each careful step along the byway.
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.
Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew,
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall,
And did it my way.
I've loved, I've laughed and cried,
I've had my fill, my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.
To think I did all that,
And may I say, not in a shy way,
"No, oh no not me,
I did it my way".
For what is a man, what has he got?
If not himself, then he has naught.
To say the things he truly feels,
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows,
And did it my way!
'My Way', by Frank Sinatra
Yes, My Way is Dr Mahathir Mohamad's favourite song. Of course, when he sang
it back then he was still the Prime Minister, so the lyrics was not as
appropriate then as it is now. Today, the lyrics fit Dr Mahathir as if they
had been written with him in mind.
Many at the peak of their careers say it is very lonely at the top. Dr
Mahathir, of all people, should know this, as he was at the top for more
than 22 years. But Dr Mahathir is rapidly discovering it can be even
lo nelier in the retirement years.
Umno supporters, warlords and wannabe leaders flock to those in power like
Blue Arse Flies to ****. But once the **** shrivels and dries up, the flies
move on to look for 'fresh' ****.
This is Umno culture -- or the culture in most political parties for that
matter.
Take Anwar Ibrahim as one example. When he was both Deputy Prime Minister
and Finance Minister it was almost impossible to meet him. When he was on
the way up it was not that difficult though, as not many were that
interested in him. I managed many a breakfast with him in his Bukit
Damansara home when he was still a 'nobody'. But once he made it, he
disappeared from my radar screen.
I remember a mutual friend, who I will only call by his pet name 'Non'
(pronounced 'norn'), who one day bumped into Anwar at the Ministry of
Finance in Jalan Duta.
"Raja Petra has not come to see me in more than three years," lamented Anwar
to Non.
I had in fact discussed this with Non earlier so he knew my sentiments on
the matter.
"Seeing you is impossible," replied Non. "It is easier to see the PM. And
you are not even the PM yet."
"Allah!" retorted Anwar, dragging the double 'L' in his usual 'trying to
sooth you' fashion.
But Non was not about to let Anwar get away with it. "With Eric Chia and
Vincent Tan lining up outside your office to see you, it is like trying to
take your medication from the government pharmacy," Non quipped. (And those
who have ever tried filling their prescription at the government pharmacy
would know what Non meant by this).
"Ah, don't talk like that," Anwar tried to pacify Non.
"Never mind, let all those people who didn't want to even know you when you
were nobody see you," added Non. "Once you have fallen from grace and none
of these people want to see you anymore, then we will come and see you."
Anwar was ap parently upset by this reply and I do think this was rather
pointed of Non. Then, a few months later, in September 1998, what Non said
did happen. And we went to see him again in spite of the fact we were very
critical of him.
Of course, the Eric Chias and Vincent Tans of the business world, and the
many corporate bosses who practically parked themselves outside Anwar's
office at the peak of his career, would not even dare whisper his name
anymore lest they be identified as 'Anwar's man', let alone go see him or
attend any of his trials.
Now that Anwar is free and there is every possibility, however remote it may
be, he may again ascend the ladder and walk through the corridors of power,
these people have returned as 'Anwar's man'. Of course, many do not dare
meet him openly lest he does not quite make it back. They would rather sneak
in through the kitchen in the darkness of night or meet him overseas beyond
the prying eyes of Malays ia's Special Branch.
Businessmen are gamblers by nature. You have to take risks in business, so
the gambling instinct has to be strong. And all 'good' gamblers place their
money on as many horses as they can in case the dark horse ends up the
winner. But that would be fine if the horse is running. If the horse is
idling in the stables then it would be futile to bet on it.
The question then would be: is Anwar a dark horse or one that has been put
out to pasture? According to Khairy Jamaluddin, Anwar's days are gone. But
in politics one never knows. Khairy has more than a decade to go before he
reaches the top slot and 24 hours is a long time in politics, as Anwar
himself has discovered.
Anyway, back to what we want to talk about today. Dr Mahathir's present
predicament can be regarded as poetic justice. What Anwar suffered all those
years since 1998, Dr Mahathir is just beginning to experience. And it is not
a nice feeling afte r holding court for 22 years with the court jesters
falling over each other racing to do your bidding.
When Anwar was first released on 2 September 2004, Khairy, Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's son-in-law, said, now that Anwar is free, next will
be Dr Mahathir's turn to go to jail, followed by Daim, then Najib, then
Rosmah (Najib's wife), then Rafidah, then Megat Junid, then..." And he went
through the list of a dozen or so 'people at the top' who would in time take
Anwar's place in Sungai Buloh Prison.
Khairy was not making any idle threats here. It was a promise. And what
Khairy promises, Khairy delivers. You may hate him and think he is a young
upstart. You may even think he is pompous to boot. But credit must be given
where credit is due. And Khairy never fails to do what he sets out to do.
Today, Dr Mahathir is seeing his empire being dismantled piece by piece
before his very eyes. And it is agonising for him to wa tch this. But the
beautiful part about this whole thing is: he is taking International Trade
Minister Rafidah Aziz down with him. If Dr Mahathir can be cut down to size
and defanged, then Najib and his wife, Rosmah, can be neutralised as well;
for Najib is depending on the benevolence of the ex-Prime Minister to get
ahead. Megat Junid is a nonentity with Dr Mahathir neutered. This would
leave Daim Zainuddin totally isolated and exposed, a sitting duck waiting to
be plucked.
The AP issue is not just about abuse of power. It extends beyond that. The
AP issue is in fact not even an issue. It is a catalyst for bigger things to
come. One cannot blame Rafidah alone for the fiasco. After all, Dr Mahathir
was Prime Minister when APs became a gold mine. Prior to Dr Mahathir's
tenure, APs were not worth anything. And anyone who was a genuine car or
motorcycle importer could get them.
Suddenly, in the early 1980s, when Dr Mahathir took over as Prime Minister,
APs given to genuine importers were suddenly withdrawn and handed over to
members of an exclusive 'club'. And membership to this club depended on your
relationship with the powers-that-be.
I too used to have APs back in the mid-1970s when I held the import
franchise for Suzuki 250cc motorcycles (At that time no motorcycles above
200cc were assembled in Malaysia). Then, in the early 1980s, they were
withdrawn because it was reported I was a PAS supporter. I had to be an Umno
man before I could get APs. APs, therefore, are a reward scheme for loyal
Umno supporters and those who have served the party, plus a retirement
benefit for those who once held positions of power in party and government.
But why just look at car APs? Do you know motorcycle imports too need APs?
So do imports of many other items right down to Mandarin oranges from China.
Since we are 'auditing' car APs, why not look at the rest as well? Who are
the beneficiaries of these APs? You will be surprised to know that car APs
are just the tip of the iceberg. And you will be even more surprised when
you find out who the beneficiaries of all these other APs are.
We are about to see APgate of colossal proportions about to unfold before
our very eyes. Now that we APpreciate the value or car APs, it is time to
comprehend the broad spectrum of the AP racket and in what way that simple
piece of paper can put even Midas to shame.