First PM: Tunku Abdul Rahman – Father of Malaysia
He was credited with winning Independence for Malaya from the British in 1957, and in 1963, formed Malaysia with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore (S'pore was kicked out in 1965 which turned out to be a blessing in disguise). Best known for the video clip of his 'Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!' at Stadium Merdeka (where else?).
Second PM: Tun Abdul Razak – Father of Najib and NEP
He was credited with starting Felda which his son, Najib, is now managing like a family business, besides being PM.
Third PM: Tun Hussein Onn – Father of Hishamuddin; Son of Onn Jaafar
His father had a vision of a multi-racial party, but sadly he was using a telescope and his vision missed the elephant in the form of Umno, a Malay party which has ruled Malaya, then Malaysia, from day one. Onn Jaafar's mult-racial wish remained wishful till this day, and even his grandson has been credited with raising the Keris at every Umno general meeting, to reinforce Malay Supremacy.
Fourth PM: Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohammed – Father of Ketuanan Melayu and NEP abuse
He started office as PM with a slogan 'Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah' but it turned out to be anything but. How could anything be clean with lack of transparency (Official Secrets Act)? OSA must be the single main cause of big time corruption, effectively covering up all trails. He was instrumental in disabling ACA from going after those who lived beyond their means. Internal Security Act was abused too. It was used to detain political opponents. Best known was 'Operation Lallang' when over 100 people were detained, including some BN leaders to give some semblance of fairness.
He is also known for introducing the 'clocking in and out' system for civil servants but soon they found a way by having colleagues to do for them and vice versa.
Proton must be his pet project, making Malaysia a car producing country, though re-badging of Mitsubishi seemed more like it. The main complaint by the public was the protection of the local car industry, which effectively raised the prices of other cars, whether locally assembled or imported. Sepang Circuit for Formula One racing appears to be built because of his son's love of fast car racing.
He was credited with 'Malaysia Boleh' or 'Malaysia Can' which started a craze for tallest this, biggest that, and longest other. Petronas happened to be producing oil and he was in a frenzy spending the money earned because he was overwhelmed by it.
Putrajaya was a showcase of delusion of grandeur, with new grand buildings and lakes created so that beautiful bridges could be built over them. Petronas Twin Towers were at one time the tallest in the world even though only one tower was occupied. National pride, but built by Koreans and Japanese. He can be called Father of Squander too. Form over substance was the order of the day. Even graduates were churned out in large numbers to show our progress, regardless of whether they were employable, in the quest to achieve his Vision 2020.
To be fair, his best achievement was North-South Expressway, which opened up and speeded development in the west of West Malaysia. But as usual, it was marred by the lop-sided agreement which sided the concessionaire. PLUS has been in a win-win situation at the expense of the road users: either allow us to increase toll rates or pay us compensation. Increasing toll rate is unpopular and could cost votes, but fairer because only users are affected. Compensation is considered unfair because other taxpayers are subsidizing the road users. Unbelievably the agreement was and still is classified under OSA!
Recently, he made a statement that he has some Indian blood, but he is a Malay (under our elusive definition), and there is no Malay who has ever championed Ketuanan Melayu like he did, ably supported by Ibrahim Ali, his machai.
Fifth PM: Tun Abdullah Badawi – Father-in-law of Khairy
He is best known for his famous son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin. Otherwise, he is known as Sleepy PM, who used to fall asleep during meetings. His biggest achievement was a landslide victory in 2004 General Election, mainly because of people's dislike of his predecessor. This was evident later when BN lost its two-third majority in Parliament as well as 5 states in 2008 GE.
Sixth PM: Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak – Father of Magic (Bapa Ajaib) and 'Kautim'
He is best known for making things disappear, as well as people changing their affidavits. There is virtually nothing which he could not 'kautim' or resolved with the kind of money at his disposal. He was instrumental in taking over Perak, by hook or by crook, by entrapping two PKR state assemblymen before arm-twisting them to jump ship; and made an offer to a DAP turncoat which she could not refuse. Now she goes around in a new Mercedes! He believes everyone has a price, and he is more than willing to pay, after all the money does not belong to him. He is making it a habit at every election with his 'You help us, we help you' with acquiescence from Election Commission, an admittedly biased institution because the commissioners are not from heaven! (Nazri)
Najib is also known as the husband of the first known First Lady of Malaysia (FLOM). She is the woman behind a well driven husband and credited for most of his achievements. When stricken with chicken pox, she represented him (instead of DPM by protocol) to welcome PM of Australia.
She even acted as Foreign Minister, relieving him of some public relations in the Middle East.
He was credited with 'Malaysia Boleh' or 'Malaysia Can' which started a craze for tallest this, biggest that, and longest other. Petronas happened to be producing oil and he was in a frenzy spending the money earned because he was overwhelmed by it.
Putrajaya was a showcase of delusion of grandeur, with new grand buildings and lakes created so that beautiful bridges could be built over them. Petronas Twin Towers were at one time the tallest in the world even though only one tower was occupied. National pride, but built by Koreans and Japanese. He can be called Father of Squander too. Form over substance was the order of the day. Even graduates were churned out in large numbers to show our progress, regardless of whether they were employable, in the quest to achieve his Vision 2020.
To be fair, his best achievement was North-South Expressway, which opened up and speeded development in the west of West Malaysia. But as usual, it was marred by the lop-sided agreement which sided the concessionaire. PLUS has been in a win-win situation at the expense of the road users: either allow us to increase toll rates or pay us compensation. Increasing toll rate is unpopular and could cost votes, but fairer because only users are affected. Compensation is considered unfair because other taxpayers are subsidizing the road users. Unbelievably the agreement was and still is classified under OSA!
Recently, he made a statement that he has some Indian blood, but he is a Malay (under our elusive definition), and there is no Malay who has ever championed Ketuanan Melayu like he did, ably supported by Ibrahim Ali, his machai.
Fifth PM: Tun Abdullah Badawi – Father-in-law of Khairy
He is best known for his famous son-in-law, Khairy Jamaluddin. Otherwise, he is known as Sleepy PM, who used to fall asleep during meetings. His biggest achievement was a landslide victory in 2004 General Election, mainly because of people's dislike of his predecessor. This was evident later when BN lost its two-third majority in Parliament as well as 5 states in 2008 GE.
Sixth PM: Dato Seri Najib Tun Razak – Father of Magic (Bapa Ajaib) and 'Kautim'
He is best known for making things disappear, as well as people changing their affidavits. There is virtually nothing which he could not 'kautim' or resolved with the kind of money at his disposal. He was instrumental in taking over Perak, by hook or by crook, by entrapping two PKR state assemblymen before arm-twisting them to jump ship; and made an offer to a DAP turncoat which she could not refuse. Now she goes around in a new Mercedes! He believes everyone has a price, and he is more than willing to pay, after all the money does not belong to him. He is making it a habit at every election with his 'You help us, we help you' with acquiescence from Election Commission, an admittedly biased institution because the commissioners are not from heaven! (Nazri)
Najib is also known as the husband of the first known First Lady of Malaysia (FLOM). She is the woman behind a well driven husband and credited for most of his achievements. When stricken with chicken pox, she represented him (instead of DPM by protocol) to welcome PM of Australia.
She even acted as Foreign Minister, relieving him of some public relations in the Middle East.
Apart from Tunku, the other Prime Ministers are known for nepotism:
Tun Razak died early and Najib came back from UK and was elected MP of Pekan at the age of 21! He later became Minister, then Deputy PM, and now PM. His banker brother has benefited from the many mergers and acquisitions of GLCs. CIMB was for a while, the largest company listed on Bursa Saham Malaysia, based on market capitalization.
The wives of Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn are sisters. Hishamuddin is now Home Minister. The relationships of the second, third and sixth PM show the immense power and influence of their extended families in our country. The present PM and Home Minister are cousins.
Tun Dr. Mahathir, despite his initiative to avoid nepotism during his time, has a son Mukriz as Deputy Minister now.
Tun Abdullah Badawi was well known as the father-in-law of Khairy, who is now Umno Youth Chief. The famous son-in-law was well known for his team in Fourth Floor.
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