Something? No, some things are rotten in Malaysia

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s analysis of what’s wrong with the country is close but not close enough to the reality. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 11, 2015.

The inimitable Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad didn't quite hit the nail on the head when he paraphrased Shakespeare to say something is rotten in Malaysia.

One, it is not about people not being paid for so-called work done. Or their permits pulled. Or their proposals copied. Or local white knights having their bids to take over companies rejected without even a look.

Two. It isn't something. It is a lot of things.

Where do we begin? 

Something is rotten because after what happened in 1988, there are still red flags about our judiciary.

Despite briefings to diplomats yesterday, Western nations were as quick as the Prime Minister's Department in releasing their view of the administration of justice in the Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sodomy verdict.

The Prime Minister's Department insists the judiciary is independent but the foreign offices of the Western countries are still taking a jaundiced view of that institution.

Something is rotten because the country's racial and religious equilibrium has been damaged. What was Dr Mahathir's vision of Bangsa Malaysia and Datuk Seri Najib Razak's 1Malaysia has been cast aside for political expediency.

Something is rotten because after years and money poured down the system, there are still complaints that only one race dominates the business scene. Will a boycott help at a time when the country needs everyone to pitch in?

Do politicians still have to bring in race to make a point about monopolies and such, if there is a point to be made at all? If there is a point to be made, it is simple. Explain the need for approved permits for almost everything imported.

Something is rotten when Malaysia still depends on commodities and oil for its revenue, years after industrialisation has replaced the agrarian and mining economy. Are we a nation that makes anything apart from shuffling paper?

Yet, when reading Dr Mahathir's blog entry posted yesterday, it appears that he is still concerned about special interests individuals and groups, not the country at large.

Malaysia is more than these individuals, sir.

And the elephant in the room there is about money. Who gets the money, who makes the money from contracts, concessions and corporate manoeuvres? Malaysia is more than that, sir.

And Malaysians are still not used to the stench, sir, although some have run away from the stink.

The rest of Malaysia will deal with it, even they are demonised or imprisoned for their efforts to allow everyone to breathe the sweet air of liberty.

- TMI