Mahathir Gagal Bawa Malaysia Capai Status Harimau Asia

Bekas Menteri Kewangan, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah mendedahkan Malaysia tidak pernah menjadi Harimau Asia khususnya ketika pemerintahan Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Menurut beliau, gelaran berkenaan hanya omong kosong semata-mata sebaliknya Malaysia merupakan 'negara monyet' dan tidak membangun.

Tambah beliau, Malaysia juga tidak pernah berada sama taraf dalam soal ekonomi di samping negara-negara maju Asia lain seperti Korea Selatan, Taiwan, Hong Kong serta Singapura.

Beliau berkata Malaysia tidak digelar sebagai Harimau Asia kerana negara telah membiayai kebanyakan projeknya, termasuk empangan dan lebuh raya, kerana pelabur asing telah mengelak daripada melabur di Malaysia.

Wawasan 2020 yang dibawa oleh Mahathir untuk menjadikan Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara maju juga tidak berjaya sehingga ke hari ini.

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/713341

Pada 2018, Mahathir kembali ke tampuk kuasa pada usia 92 tahun, membawa bersama-sama harapan besar rakyat Malaysia yang menginginkan perubahan selepas tempoh panjang pemerintahan Barisan Nasional (BN).

Beliau berjanji untuk memulihkan ekonomi negara, membasmi korupsi dan membawa Malaysia kembali ke era kegemilangan sebagai salah satu 'Harimau Asia'.

Namun janji-janji berkenaan tidak ditunaikan sepenuhnya dan beberapa dasar serta pendekatan beliau telah menerima kritikan yang tajam.

Salah satu kritikan utama terhadap Mahathir adalah pengurusan ekonomi yang lemah.

Beliau tidak berjaya membawa pembaharuan yang signifikan dan dasar ekonomi yang jelas.

Pertumbuhan ekonomi Malaysia bagaimanapun tetap perlahan dan masalah seperti pengangguran serta hutang awam tidak ditangani dengan berkesan.

https://malaysiagazette.com/2021/02/02/dr-mahathir-perdana-menteri-yang-gagal/

Era Mahathir ketika menjadi Perdana Menteri ketujuh juga dibayangi dengan ketidakstabilan politik negara.

Perselisihan dalam Pakatan Harapan (PH) dan langkah-langkah politik yang tidak konsisten menjejaskan keyakinan pelabur dan rakyat terhadap masa depan negara.

Peralihan kuasa yang tidak lancar kepada penggantinya, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, turut menyumbang kepada ketidakpastian politik.

Mahathir juga sering dituduh membuat keputusan yang tidak konsisten dan bersifat ad-hoc.

Sebagai contoh, pembatalan beberapa projek infrastruktur besar dan perubahan dasar secara mengejut menimbulkan ketidakpastian dalam kalangan pelabur serta usahawan.

https://www.astroawani.com/berita-bisnes/pelabur-asing-masih-takut-dengan-bursa-malaysia-223264

Mengimbau kembali era pemerintahan pertama Mahathir sebagai Perdana Menteri, tempoh berkenaan dianggap zaman pembangunan pesat untuk negara.

Namun, di sebalik kemajuan tersebut, terdapat beberapa kegagalan signifikan yang menghalang Malaysia daripada mencapai status 'Harimau Asia'.

Mahathir merupakan Perdana Menteri yang kerap melaksanakan projek-projek mega seperti Menara Berkembar Petronas (KLCC) dan Putrajaya.

Walaupun projek-projek ini membantu meningkatkan imej Malaysia di mata dunia, namun juga membebankan kewangan negara serta menimbulkan persoalan mengenai keutamaan pembangunan yang sebenar.

Meskipun DEB berjaya mengurangkan kemiskinan dan meningkatkan penyertaan Bumiputera dalam ekonomi, tetapi menyebabkan ketidakseimbangan ekonomi serta sosial antara kaum.

DEB menerima kritikan kerana mengutamakan pembahagian kekayaan kepada golongan elit politik dan kroni daripada membantu rakyat.

https://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/52766

Tuntasnya, Mahathir bertanggungjawab atas beberapa kegagalan yang menghalang negara daripada mencapai potensi sepenuhnya.

Beberapa keputusannya yang sering berorientasikan kepentingan politik peribadi daripada kepentingan negeri.

Dasar beliau yang kerap berubah-ubah tanpa perancangan jangka panjang yang jelas menimbulkan kekeliruan dan ketidakpastian dalam kalangan pelabur serta rakyat.

Pendekatan autokratik Mahathir juga mengekang potensi inovasi dan daya saing negara di peringkat global.

Janji untuk membawa Malaysia kembali menjadi 'Harimau Asia' tidak direalisasikan, malah beberapa dasar dan tindakan beliau turut menyumbang kepada ketidakstabilan ekonomi serta politik negara.

Kepemimpinan beliau yang tidak konsisten dan seringkali menimbulkan kontroversi hanya memburukkan keadaan, meninggalkan ekonomi negara dalam keadaan yang lebih rapuh serta tidak menentu.

Syed Saddiq's Half Marathon Of A Political Career

In Malaysian politics, few figures have captured the public's attention as dynamically as Syed Saddiq. Young, articulate, and telegenic, he has often been hailed as a beacon of hope for the new generation. However, the dream surrounding his participation in the Desaru Triathlon, coupled with a history tainted by accusations of dishonesty, calls for a critical reassessment of his public persona.

The Desaru Triathlon is no mean feat; it demands peak physical condition, mental fortitude, and a disciplined training regimen. Athletes who undertake this challenge are expected to exemplify determination and resilience. Therefore, when Syed Saddiq, a man who positioned himself as a paragon of youthful vigour and perseverance, failed to complete the race and attempted to claim a podium finish, it was more than a personal setback. It was a public disappointment.

Everyone has off days, and failure is an inevitable part of the human experience. Yet, it was the way that he not only failed to understand his limits as an athlete but also imagined having the delusional level of self-confidence to believe that you could beat your old record by an entire hour in a month and after a 200km run, but also a lack of critical thinking on how being wrong would affect him and those that believe in him. The failure to complete the triathlon is symptomatic of a deeper issue: a pattern of promising much but delivering little.

Syed Saddiq's political career is rife with instances where his actions have not matched his rhetoric. He has often been accused of being more style than substance, a politician who excels in generating headlines but falters in delivering tangible results.

One cannot overlook the numerous allegations of dishonesty that have marred his tenure. From questionable decisions during his time as Minister of Youth and Sports to allegations of mishandling party funds, Saddiq's record raises serious concerns about his integrity. These accusations are not mere political smears; they are supported by investigations and internal party disputes that paint a picture of a leader who is often economical with the truth.

We need to look to his support of Dr Zakir Naik's disparaging remarks against the Chinese and Indian communities, where Syed Saddiq was quick to jump on the bandwagon as a hero defending the rights of Malaysian minorities. After Dr Zakir Naik's questions on the loyalty of Chinese and Indian citizens of Malaysia – Syed Saddiq publicly stated that the fugitive preacher should be deported back to India. 

It is no surprise that many still remember such hypocrisy. At the time, Syed Saddiq was the leader of his former party's youth wing, ARMADA. Likely in an attempt to appease grassroots supporters and put on a show – he did what he felt was needed to reinforce his position among BERSATU members, among other dubious actions by the former Minister to secure his position.

Bear in mind that when he was in government, there was nary a week that he would publicly denounce a Pakatan Harapan leader for "pressuring" Tun Dr Mahathir to step down as Prime Minister and hand over the baton to PKR President Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as promised.

Worst of all, he seemed legitimately confused when Langkah Sheraton occurred, seemingly utilizing his naivety to absolve himself of moral responsibility for the situation that led to the end of the Pakatan Harapan government - a familiar occurrence given his "naivety" when confronted with the various misappropriation of funds incidents in his political career.

In politics, as in life, credibility is paramount. Syed Saddiq's failure to complete the Desaru Triathlon could have been a minor blip had it not been part of a larger narrative of unfulfilled promises and questionable ethics. For a politician who has built his career on the promise of transparency and reform, these discrepancies are particularly damning.

It is high time that Syed Saddiq was held accountable, not just for his recent athletic shortfall but also for his overall track record. Malaysians deserve leaders who inspire with their words and deliver with their actions. More than being a charismatic figurehead is required; authentic leadership demands consistency, reliability, and honesty.