Sorry, Tun, no birthday song for you: An open letter to Tun M

Focus Malaysia

12 hours ago

DEAR Tun: First of all, happy birthday, though belated. You have reached a remarkable milestone in the journey of your life filled with so many momentous events that have shaped the history of the country.
You have been the bright lodestar in the Malaysian skies for more than 20 decades, skillfully guiding the ship of state on a steady course. We felt safe in your hands.
Here was a leader in whom we have placed our full trust and confidence and who proved to be an effective administrator.
Your record of achievements was impressive so much so that we bestowed on you the title of 'Father of Modernisation' because we believed that you played a significant role in transforming the country into a vibrant economic and industrial powerhouse.
You were also admired at home and abroad for standing up to the Western Goliaths and slaying them with your slingshots of stinging criticism and sharp barbs.
In fact, in 2019, Time magazine listed you as one of the world's 100 most influential people.
Then something bad, really bad happened. Ever since you resigned from your exalted post, you became a changed man—for the worse.
Instead of gracefully bowing out of the national stage, you mounted scathing attacks on your two immediate successors to the extent that you were largely instrumental in toppling them from power.
But when you came back to power the second time and lost your throne in double-quick time, you became increasingly agitated and resentful.
Over time you became a grumpy old man who was always finding fault with the governments of the day.
Then when your old nemesis, who was once your second-in-command in the halcyon days of your administration came up tops in the race for the premiership, you began an undignified campaign of relentless vilification against the current administration.
Having lost power and prestige, you grew more embittered and sought every means to try and recapture the lost sceptre. And that was what when we believed you decided to play the race card to whip up Malay support.
Today, you see every thing through the prism of race. You tell the Malays that they have taken a back seat in politics and as a result, the 'others' have taken control of the economy.
Are you trying to instigate your race to rise up and take charge of their own destiny and not let the 'others', presumably the non-Malays, get the upper hand?
Of course, there's nothing wrong working for your race but when you stepped up your race rhetoric in this dangerous manner, you are pouring more fuel into the fire. And when the fire becomes a conflagration, everybody gets burned.
Remember, the 'chopstick' incident? You took a dig at the Chinese community for using the chopsticks, commonly used in China, and not their hands to eat food which is the Malaysian way.
In other words, you were implying that the Chinese are not being assimilated sufficiently into the Malaysian society.
Assimilation has an ominous ring to it as it implies that the ethnic minority groups will have to adopt and absorb the cultural norms, heritage, values and behaviours of the dominant race, often to the distinct disadvantage of the former.
Tun, you got the desired result: the Chinese ethnic community was offended by your unbecoming remarks.
You also took potshots at the Indian community by claiming that they are 'not completely loyal' to Malaysia because they identified themselves mostly with the country of origin. You were roundly denounced for such divisive comments.
Clearly, you were harping on race as well as shuffling the religion card just so to realise your implausible dream of becoming the prime minister for the third time.
We hate to say it but this is what you have become—a chauvinist and a bigot, qualities that we find abhorrent in a multiracial society.
With the 16th general election looming, you are ramping up your drive to rally the Malays behind you. In fact, you have launched a campaign to save Malaysia (read Malays) yet again.
You are creating now so much havoc that we have awarded you another title: the 'Father of Discord'.
If only you had been more responsible and played the role of a wise elder statesman upon your retirement, you could have won the hearts and minds of all Malaysians.
You could have been made a special, distinguished ambassador-at-large for Malaysia, which would enable you to travel all over the world to promote the country and bring in more foreign investments because we are still poor.
Who knows, you could have even be elected as the United Nations secretary-general, giving you the world stage to speak your acerbic mind.
You know, Tun, we the people would have hosted a grand bash for you at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium to mark your 100th birthday anniversary, which fell on July 10.
We would have borne on our shoulders a giant cake with 100 lighted candles on its icing and placed it in the centre of the field and then, with 80,000 spectators, we would have lustily belted out a birthday song for you.
Perhaps, the winds of nature would help blow the candle lights in one awe-inspiring finale to a memorable, historic occasion. You would have gone down in history as the greatest prime minister Malaysia ever had.
But sadly, this blissful scenario didn't happen. You have lost the respect and admiration of the people with your unbecoming, unstatesman-like and uncivil conduct. You richly deserve our scorn.
So, Tun, sorry no birthday song for you. ‒ July 15, 2025
Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
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