Another book that is in my travelling bag these days is a political diary by Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad “The Diarist”. He is a veteran journalist and was Editor-in-Chief of NST before he was sacked in November 2003. His book is slim (120 pages) but packed with anecdotes and witty comments about Malaysian politicians and politics in general. He is very secular and very much anti-American as he is anti-Pas. I sometimes wonder how he can reconcile both extremes. As a politician he has tasted the sweetness of power as an UMNO Supreme Council member as well as the bitterness of the lack of it after five years under ISA detention in Kamunting from 1976 to 1981. He is a Cambridge-Harvard educated “old guard” of post-Merdeka Malaysian politics who served under three PMs.
His job as NST Editor-in-Chief took him to various places interviewing prominent politicians, covering VIP visits or simply playing golf with his golfer buddies. He was MP for Kok Lanas, Kelantan and a Deputy Minister at one time. But, alas, in Malaysian politics and business, what another former Editor-in-Chief of a Malaysian daily (Datuk Johan Jaafar) once said prove to be right. Speaking from his own experience after he was axed following the sacking of Anwar, JJ observed that in Malaysia one whole generation of Malay businessmen would be replaced when a new UMNO leader came to power. The NST diarist was unceremoniously dismissed from his paper in 2003 soon after Pak Lah was made PM. Obviously, he was not one of Pak Lah’s favourite editors. Without a full time job, perhaps he can concentrate on writing his memoir. I notice, unlike politicians in the UK or US, not many of our retired politicians engage in writing about their experiences for future generation of leaders to learn. It would be a waste if their wealth of experience followed them to the grave.
p/s: Have yet to read LKY’s “The Singapore Story” and still waiting for our Tun Dr M to sit at home and write his memoir rather than trading insults with the current PM.
Kajang
7-10-2006
2 comments:
Imeja, thank you for your kind advice on my post "Taking a big leap"
I agree that postgrad education doesn't necessarily mean a higher pay. My family are mostly academicians, they - especially my parents expect me to further my studies. No pressure tho, as the decision is all on me.
Thanx again
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