The End of The Mahathir Era

With the recent passing of Tun Taib, another figure from the Mahathir era, Malaysia witnesses the departure of yet another influential personality. Despite receiving support from the political class, the average Malaysian on social media has expressed less-than-kind sentiments toward the former governor's legacy. Meanwhile, Mahathir finds himself again in the hospital, prompting allies to dispel rumours that this might be his final visit. In light of the mixed response toward Mahathir, it is worth examining his legacy.

Mahathir Mohamed's political journey, spanning almost 75 years, appears to be nearing its end as he recedes from relevance amid the current intense political landscape. An evaluation of the past four years, during which he served as prime minister for 20 months, reveals a complex legacy.

Throughout his career, Mahathir's bold actions shaped Malaysia's trajectory for better or worse. The late 1990s marked a period of perceived success with significant infrastructure projects. Anticipated to transition to the international stage after his initial 22-year tenure, Mahathir focused on influencing domestic politics, contributing to the rise of leaders like Najib Razak and the formation of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia. Despite this, there was a willingness to overlook these shortcomings as his era seemed to have passed.

These shortcomings, in retrospect, would have turned heads and set social media ablaze if they were committed in contemporary Malaysia.

Notable instances include the BMF scandal in the 1980s involving financial losses and fraudulent activities at Bumiputera Malaysia Finance, a subsidiary of Bank Negara Malaysia. The Perwaja Steel scandal in the 1980s and 1990s raised allegations of financial mismanagement and corruption in the government-initiated Perwaja Steel project, although Mahathir was not directly implicated.

Another significant controversy was the judicial crisis of 1988, where senior judges were suspended, raising concerns about political interference in the judiciary during Mahathir's tenure. The trial of his then-deputy, and now Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim, in 1998 on charges of corruption and sodomy attracted international attention, with critics alleging political motivations.

Despite initial optimism regarding Mahathir's reformative stance after the 2018 election, disillusionment grew as the government failed to deliver promised reforms. Mahathir's participation in the Malay Dignity Congress strained relations within Pakatan Harapan. The turning point in February 2020, where Mahathir appeared to support a government aligned with Malay supremacists but later resigned, shattered hopes for a new Malaysia free from race-based politics and corruption.

And now, he sees himself as a target of the MACC, as one by one, his friends and family find themselves embroiled in investigations aimed at dismantling the wealth he had purportedly built on the backs of the average Malaysian.

Mahathir's legacy, entrenched in the mess that we now call Malaysian politics, reflects an almost unshakable commitment to maintaining Malay-dominated governance, leading to a repressive state and a three-tier class society. The disillusionment among those who voted for Pakatan Harapan indicates a complex and controversial legacy for Mahathir Mohamed, with the potential for historians to view his influence on UMNO and party splits with a critical lens.

Pulau Batu Puteh Bukan Sekadar Gugusan

Peguam kepada bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad iaitu Rafique Rashid mendakwa penubuhan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja (RCI) bagi meneliti perkara berkaitan kes kedaulatan Pulau Batu Puteh adalah bercirikan politik dan mahu memberi tekanan kepada anak guamnya.

Mahathir sebelum ini didakwa menjadi 'punca' terlepasnya Pulau Batu Puteh di tangan Singapura pada 2018.

Beliau memutuskan untuk tidak meneruskan permohonan semakan semula kes Pulau Batu Puteh di Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) sewaktu menjadi Perdana Menteri ketujuh.

Susulan itu, kerajaan Johor menggesa Kerajaan Persekutuan menyiasat kembali punca Mahathir bertindak sedemikian kerana Pulau Batu Puteh berkait dengan isu kedaulatan negara.

Maka, Kabinet bersetuju membentuk pasukan Petugas Khas bagi menyemak isu-isu dan tindakan perundangan berhubung kes Pulau Batu Puteh pada 29 Oktober tahun lalu.

SUMBER RUJUKAN: https://www.utusan.com.my/nasional/2022/06/pulau-batu-putih-hairi-bidas-tun-m-jangan-berdolak-dalik/

Malaysia mempunyai sumber dan bukti kukuh berhubung pemilikan Pulau Batu Puteh.

Malaysia telah menghantar Peguam Negara, Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali dan lima penyelidik ke London mulai Julai 2016 bagi menyemak lebih 3,000 dokumen yang baru dideklasifikasikan di Arkib Negara United Kingdom.

Susulan itu, Malaysia telah menemukan tiga dokumen baharu membuktikan bahawa British dan Singapura mengakui Pulau Batu Puteh bukanlah milik Singapura.

Dokumen itu sangat penting bagi Malaysia untuk mendapatkan semula Pulau Batu Puteh daripada Singapura.

Mahathir juga tidak memberikan penjelasan tentang keputusannya menarik diri daripada prosiding ICJ secara mengejut walaupun mempunyai dokumen yang ampuh untuk melawan Singapura.

SUMBER RUJUKAN: https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2023/01/1056616/kerajaan-putuskan-tak-wajar-tarik-semakan-batu-puteh

Pulau Batu Puteh bukan sekadar sebuah gugusan tanah di tengah lautan tetapi merupakan lambang kedaulatan Malaysia sebelum ini.

Kehilangan Pulau Batu Puteh kepada Singapura pada 2018 meninggalkan parut di hati rakyat Malaysia.

Singapura juga dilaporkan telah menjalankan kerja-kerja tambakan di sekitar Pulau Batu Puteh itu serta didakwa bakal menjadi pulau buatan manusia pada masa hadapan.

Langkah Singapura itu dikhuatiri memberi ancaman kepada Malaysia kerana pulau buatan manusia tersebut berkemungkinan menjadi sebuah pangkalan tentera laut negara berkenaan pada masa depan.

Walaupun saiz Pulau Batu Puteh hanya sebesar padang bola sepak, namun Singapura berkemungkinan boleh memperluaskan pulau buatan manusianya kepada 10 atau 20 saiz padang bola sepak.

SUMBER RUJUKAN: https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/428115

Pulau Batu Puteh berada pada kedudukan amat strategik serta merupakan laluan utama antara timur dan barat melalui Selat Melaka dan Laut China Selatan.

Justeru, pulau berkenaan memiliki nilai ekonomi termasuk pengaruhnya terhadap laluan perkapalan dan potensi sumber semula jadi di kawasan sekitarnya.

Tidak hairan apabila para nelayan Malaysia menyifatkan kawasan sekitar pulau tersebut sebagai lubuk sumber pendapatan mereka sebelum ini.

Para nelayan bagaimanapun hanya dibenarkan melakukan aktiviti perikanan di kawasan Batuan Tengah dan Tubir Selatan sahaja kerana kedua-duanya diberikan kepada Malaysia.

Dengan menguasai Pulau Batu Puteh, Malaysia bukan sahaja mengukuhkan kedudukan wilayahnya tetapi juga potensi ekonomi maritim.

SUMBER RUJUKAN: https://newslab.malaysiakini.com/pulau-batu-puteh/ms/

Tuntasnya, Pulau Batu Puteh merupakan simbol kedaulatan yang 'diabaikan' oleh pihak tidak bertanggungjawab untuk berjuang melindunginya.

Kes ini bukan sahaja memberi pengajaran kepada semua pihak tetapi turut menekankan kepentingan menjaga kedaulatan negara.

Setiap inci wilayah negara harus dipertahankan secara kolektif.

Pulau Batu Puteh menjadi cerminan generasi masa kini dan akan datang tentang betapa mahalnya kedaulatan negara dan keutusan wilayah sesebuah negara.

Maka, ketegasan dalam memperjuangkan hak negara perlu dilakukan bersama-sama agar tiada lagi kedaulatan negara terlepas begitu sahaja.