A Short Review of "Paradise Lost: Mahathir and the End of Hope"

(English translation of column article in Nanyang Siang Pau on September 14, 2021)

 

By Lau Tai Onn

 

"A new book is like a ship, leading us from a narrow place to the infinite ocean of life."                                     - Helen Keller, USA

 

Former Malaysian ambassador Dato’ Dennis Ignatius launched his new book entitled "Paradise Lost: Mahathir and the End of Hope" on September 9, 2021, and it's like a ship that leads people to expand their horizons and stimulate their thoughts.

 

Thanks to the arrangement made by a forget-the-age friend Mr. Aw, I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this new book from Dennis (a tennis buddy of Mr. Aw) the other day. I would like to share some thoughts after reading in this column, and wish this book every success as a best seller.

 

It is noted that Dennis has served as our country’s diplomat for 36 years having been an ambassador to 7 countries in South America and Canada respectively. After retiring 13 years ago, he actively participated in social activities and was also a columnist, political commentator and writer for many print and electronic media including websites such as Malaysiakini.

 

In the book, Dennis (hereinafter referred to as the author)

takes former prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed to task for his racist words and deeds as well as Machiavellianism, in great detail and hard-hitting. In fact, people are not unfamiliar with the malfeasance and misdeeds of Mahathir as described in the book, but after reading what the author narrated in detail, they will still feel with righteous indignation!

 

The author from the outset pointed out that the post-GE14 years were years of great hope and great disappointment, and Mahathir saved our democracy only to do it irreparable harm. The calamity brought to the nation and the people as a result of the policies he crafted and pursued over the long years he was in power, resulting in the end of multiculturalism and democracy, looks set to haunt Malaysians long after he is gone.

 

That Mahathir has retired but not rested and his obsessions with controlling the politics of the nation are the root cause of all problems. He never gave up his ambition to return to power for the third time and possibly  paving the way for his son to succeed him so as to extend his control over the nation’s destiny. The author specifically coined a new term of "gravocracy" (or rule from the grave) to describe Mahathir's eternal obsession with controlling the nation.

 

This reminds me of Mahathir’s nemesis viz. Singapore’s founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew. Mr. Lee has splendidly served his country and the people well throughout his life, obvious to all people of the world. He once said in 1988 that even if he was lowered into the grave and he felt that something was going wrong, he would get up. Such is the admirable patriotism of a great statesman. Mahathir whose merits and demerits have yet to be concluded on the coffin lid is totally no match for Lee Kuan Yew.

 

The author wrote in great detail to verify that Mahathir is a Malay supremacist through and through. He has no interest in real reforms, and is even contemptuous of the fairness and justice ideals in a multi-racial society. He is determined to restore the old hegemonic system under his leadership. The author emphasizes that he cannot think of another more betraying and treacherous politician in our country in his life time, and that it was impossible to trust such a politician again.

 

In the book, the author laments that Pakatan Harapan’s PKR, DAP and Amanah appeared to have quickly lost touch with the electorate once in power. Were they too blinded by their own sense of importance or too much in awe of Mahathir? They were subservient to Mahathir and dared not dissuade the latter from taking perverse actions, such as championing the "Malay Dignity Conference" to instigate and demonize the non-Malays. PH coalition partners are not without blame.

 

He also feels that PKR president Anwar now seems a shadow of the man he once was, perhaps decreed by fate. The best that Anwar should do now is to invest in and empower a new generation of young leaders, to give them space to develop their potential and opportunity to stretch their wings.

 

Dennis recently confided in his friends that the purpose of his book is to look at Mahathir’s legacy and the destructive effects it continue to have on our nation, including the institutionalized racism, religious extremism and bigotry, widespread corruption, failing education system, misguided economic policies and etc.

 

He argued that the only way to revive this nation is to embrace our unique multiracial identity and rebuild that secular, democratic and just society envisaged by our founding fathers. He hopes that by highlighting these issues, everyone can pause and ponder about the future direction of the country.

 

Actually none of the issues raised are new. He expects some people might find the book controversial and react accordingly, but he is prepared to face any consequence calmly, possessing the spirit of Confucius’ saying that goes, “he who is wise does not get confused, he who is kind does not worry, and he who is brave does not fear.” For that Dennis deserves to be commended!

 

Last but not least, I find Dennis’s naming of the new book "Paradise Lost” ingenious. This reminds me of the movie "Lost Horizon" that I watched in 1973. In this movie based on British novelist James Hilton’s 1933 book of the same name, four British travelers accidentally landed from a crashed plane in Shangri-La, a lamasery high in the Himalayas in Tibet, China. It was a secluded place filled with peace and love, free from wars and inhabitants with incredible longevity. The protagonist later returned home, missed that Utopia and tried to make his way back to this lost paradise which was nowhere to be found again.

 

Our nation was once a paradise since its independence until 1981, but pitifully single-handedly ruined by Mahathir. The reform hopes that emerged after the last general election were fleeting because of the same person. It is hoped that our people will tirelessly struggle on, and may God bless Malaysia so that where there is a will there is a way, we will ultimately find our paradise that was lost for 40 years!

NYSP Opinion Page on Sept. 14, 2021