Book Launch & Webinar of “Paradise Lost: Mahathir & The End of Hope”

I attended the webinar streamed on Facebook Live from my desktop computer at home on Thursday evening, September 9, 2021 in conjunction with the launching of the book "Paradise Lost: Mahathir & The End Of Hope" by  former Malaysian ambassador Dato' Dennis Ignatius from 6.00pm till 8.00pm.

The full video of the launch of the book by Dennis Ignatius “Paradise Lost: Mahathir & The End of Hope”, and the webinar “Umno Redux: What Next for Malaysia” available on YouTube. 

https://youtu.be/_718utcMBLQ

Aw and Dennis on Sept. 8, 2021

I  was most indebted to my friend Mr Aw Eng Sun who arranged for his tennis buddy Dennis Ignatius to graciously send me a copy of his new book (autographed dated August 31, 2021) by express delivery, received on September 1, 2021 after I have  indicated my intention to write a short commentary article on this book for my weekly column in Nanyang Siang Pau.  It is most kind of Dennis to have promptly responded to me!

The moderator of the webinar was Jonson Chong, on behalf of the distributor of the book I.e. Malaysiana LCM, an education consultancy, and an associate company of University Book Store Malaysia Sdn Bhd (UBSM), the well-known textbook company that has been supplying and selling books to Malaysian schools and students for more than 60 years.

The author Dennis Ignatius began with a brief introduction of his book before Tawfik Tun Dr. Ismail (son of the late 2nd Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr. Ismail Abdul Rahman from 1970 to 1973) spoke and officially launched the book.

The other panelists who spoke for about 5 minutes were in the following order: Prof. Mohd. Tajuddin Rasdi (professor of Islamic Architecture USCI University and columnist for The Star and Sin Chew Daily), Prof. James Chin (professor of Asian Studies & Inaugural Director of the Asia Institute Tasmania, University of Tasmania, Australia), Tan Sri Tommy Thomas (former Attorney-general).  A speaker from the floor joined in the discussion was Siti Kassim (renowned lawyer and social activist).

I observed from the screen of my computer that the highest number of viewers was 315 at about 7.15pm.

The discussions by all the panelists and speaker were very thought-provoking and I enjoyed watching thoroughly. 

Below are some snapshots taken during the course of webinar:

Dennis Ignatius

Tawfik Tun Dr. Ismail

James Chin

Tommy Thomas

Mohd. Tajuddin Rasdi

Siti Kassim

Appendix 1: About the Book

Paradise Lost takes a critical look at Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s role in Malaysia’s political evolution and his ultimately destructive legacy of corruption, racism and religious extremism. He inherited a nation pregnant with promise and left it mired in division, uncertainty and instability, a grand kleptopia, a terrible kakistocracy. It also examines the role Mahathir played in Pakatan Harapan’s stunning 2018 electoral victory and his subsequent betrayal of the coalition he was entrusted to lead. The end result is a nation in deep crisis, adrift in a sea of uncertainty, unable to come to terms with its past, unwilling to make the compromises necessary for its future.

Paradise Lost makes for sober reading. Intensely provocative, it challenges long-established shibboleths, spotlights the dangers now confronting the nation and argues that Malaysia’s only hope for redemption lies in embracing and harnessing its unique multicultural identity.

This timely book will engender much needed public dialogue about the future of Malaysia.

Appendix 2: About the Author

Dennis Ignatius was born in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, and received his basic education infamous May 13 incident, found the love of his life, and graduated in 1972 with an honours degree in International Relations.

After a brief period with the United States Peace Corps, he joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and got to live his dream as a diplomat. He saw service in London (1974-77), Beijing (1979-81) and Washington (1986-89) before being appointed ambassador to Chile (with concurrent accreditation to Colombia, Ecuador and Peru) and subsequently ambassador to Argentina (with concurrent accreditation to Uruguay and Paraguay). He was appointed high commissioner to Canada in 2001 and served in that position until his retirement in 2008. At the Ministry, he was head of the China desk and twice held the position of undersecretary for the Americas.

He was awarded the A.M.N., J.S.D. and the D.S.P.N. as well as the Grand Cross of the Order of Mayo by the Government of Argentina. He is currently on the advisory board of the IMAN Foundation (London), diplomatic adviser to the First Step Forum (Helsinki) and a trustee of the Edunity Foundation (Kuala Lumpur).

He has been a columnist, political affairs commentator and contributor to Al-Jazeera, the Asia Sentinel, The Star, Free Malaysia Today, Malaysia Focus, Malaysiakini and other media portals. His first book – Diplomatically Speaking: Dispatches from the Best Democracy We Never Had – was published in 2018. He maintains a blog on politics, diplomacy, human rights and civil society.

He passionately believes that if the Malaysian experiment is to endure, it must remain committed to Tunku Abdul Rahman’s vision of a secular multicultural nation “inspired by the ideals of justice and liberty – a beacon of light in a disturbed and distracted world.”