Mahathir's Malaysia: Example of using power with a vision
Enayet Rasul | Saturday, 14 June 2008
Mahathir Mohammed is now a former Prime Minister of Malaysia. But he was no ordinary Prime Minister and the sort of acclaim he continues to receive for his exceptional steering of his country's affairs proves his unique identity among the world's leaders. There are several cases of long standing Prime Ministers and Presidents in countries round the world. But none of them could count on the enduring admiration of their people or such international appreciation. This is because they are probably clinging on to power for power's sake and nothing higher or greater whereas Mahathir looked at power and used power with a vision : to improve his country in all areas of human existence and earn a place of prestige for it in the family of nations. There is probably no other statesman at the world stage today who has been so successful like him in lifting up the fortunes of a country and its people through single minded devoted leadership like the ex-Prime Minster of Malaysia.
I can recall a time in the sixties when today's Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, was in the same level as Malaysia. Malaysia was gifted with natural resources like tin, rubber and other natural resources. But it was stagnating economically. Over 50 per cent of its population at that time lived in poverty. The country had no other identity in international trade other than as an exporter of primary products like tin, timber and rubber. Agriculture and that too, inefficient, was a dominant activity in Malaysia. Illiteracy, socio-cultural backwardness and all other features of underdevelopment were then transparent in every facet of life in that country.
Compared to Malaysia in the sixties, erstwhile East Pakistan was a somewhat better place at least in some respects. I remember that Malaysian students at that time coveted a place in the Dhaka University or in the Bangladesh University of Science and technology. Malaysian medical students in considerable number joined the Dhaka Medical College as a similar reputed institution did not exist in their country.
But the comparisons between the two countries have certainly changed during the last two decades. Malaysia has far surpassed Bangladesh in all areas. It has a sparkling new identity as not even a middle ranking developing country but as a semi-developed one. The notable aspect is that such a new identity was created in roughly two decades of time or the years under the leadership of Mahathir Mohammed. But in this same period when Malaysian economy reached great heights, Bangladesh only slid further down in the development ranking of nations. It is now one of the world poorest countries (LDCs) contrasted with Malaysia's status as a semi-developed country.
Is there a single all-embracing explanation for Malaysia's remarkable transformation in sharp contrast to our own static conditions or even declining ones in some areas ? The answer would certainly point to the quality of the leadership in the two countries. Malaysians were blessed with competent, well intentioned and very devoted leaders whereas our leaders have been far short in these areas. Specially, the contribution of Mahathir was outstanding. He presided over the affairs of his country for over two decades. But none can rightly claim that any part of that long stay in power was wasted. Mahathir was a visionary. He knew what things were required by his country and its true potentials. He then set himself unflinchingly to attain set targets and he could do so because the man at the top's competence, vision and integrity of character are indispensable conditions to propel a country forward.
Therefore, from a mainly raw materials exporting country, Malaysia today is an exporter of electronic goods, machineries, IT products and cars. It is recognised regionally as a major country for its industrial capacities. It could successfully complete the economic cycle of transformation into an industrial economy from an agrarian one. Its rate of poverty has fallen to only 5 per cent of the population from over 50 per cent only two decades ago in contrast to Bangladesh's present poverty liners of around 40 per cent. Malaysia that had the same amount of per capita income as Bangladesh twenty years ago now has a per capita income which is 12 times more than the one of Bangladesh. It can boast also a relatively much higher rate of literacy than Bangladesh and an effective social security system not to be found in most of the Muslim countries. It enjoys a remarkably pollution free environment and this factor , plus its mega projects like its ultra modern city of Putrajaya with the world's highest twin towers and other attractions, has made Malaysia a favourite of the world's holiday seekers.
The comparisons between Bangladesh and Malaysia come to mind again and again because the two countries are like cousin brothers who started off in similar conditions in their march towards modernity, economic development and social progress. But one has already attained so much of advancement in all areas when time stood still for the other.
In Bangladesh, we are mired in hopelessness and a sense of direction. Our problems are mounting but there is no sign that leaders are concerned in the slightest to take care of them. For example, take the case of traffic jams in Dhaka. Government leaders blame the jams on rising population in the city and increase in the number of vehicles. But they have nothing to say about poor traffic policing, inefficiency in operating simple infrastructures such as automatic signalling lights that alone are the main reasons for the jams. The jams can ease only if people in the highest level of governance cast their eyes on the problem and try to do something about it. But they won't because they have no trouble going round jams in flag bedecked cars with police escorting them and stopping all others to clear the roads for them to speed through.
The standard of education in Bangladesh is falling. But so what ? The corrupt members of the elite here have ample money from their corruption to send their children abroad to study and never to return. Many such examples are there that depict the utter selfishness and lack of character of our leaders.
Will they be sensitised in any way from knowing about Mahathir's Malaysia ? No chance of that surely knowing their mind sets developed over years of living luxuriously off the people and the country. Only greater people's consciousness of this central problem of lack of leadership and their building a strong enough movement for change may create some hope for Bangladesh.
I can recall a time in the sixties when today's Bangladesh, then East Pakistan, was in the same level as Malaysia. Malaysia was gifted with natural resources like tin, rubber and other natural resources. But it was stagnating economically. Over 50 per cent of its population at that time lived in poverty. The country had no other identity in international trade other than as an exporter of primary products like tin, timber and rubber. Agriculture and that too, inefficient, was a dominant activity in Malaysia. Illiteracy, socio-cultural backwardness and all other features of underdevelopment were then transparent in every facet of life in that country.
Compared to Malaysia in the sixties, erstwhile East Pakistan was a somewhat better place at least in some respects. I remember that Malaysian students at that time coveted a place in the Dhaka University or in the Bangladesh University of Science and technology. Malaysian medical students in considerable number joined the Dhaka Medical College as a similar reputed institution did not exist in their country.
But the comparisons between the two countries have certainly changed during the last two decades. Malaysia has far surpassed Bangladesh in all areas. It has a sparkling new identity as not even a middle ranking developing country but as a semi-developed one. The notable aspect is that such a new identity was created in roughly two decades of time or the years under the leadership of Mahathir Mohammed. But in this same period when Malaysian economy reached great heights, Bangladesh only slid further down in the development ranking of nations. It is now one of the world poorest countries (LDCs) contrasted with Malaysia's status as a semi-developed country.
Is there a single all-embracing explanation for Malaysia's remarkable transformation in sharp contrast to our own static conditions or even declining ones in some areas ? The answer would certainly point to the quality of the leadership in the two countries. Malaysians were blessed with competent, well intentioned and very devoted leaders whereas our leaders have been far short in these areas. Specially, the contribution of Mahathir was outstanding. He presided over the affairs of his country for over two decades. But none can rightly claim that any part of that long stay in power was wasted. Mahathir was a visionary. He knew what things were required by his country and its true potentials. He then set himself unflinchingly to attain set targets and he could do so because the man at the top's competence, vision and integrity of character are indispensable conditions to propel a country forward.
Therefore, from a mainly raw materials exporting country, Malaysia today is an exporter of electronic goods, machineries, IT products and cars. It is recognised regionally as a major country for its industrial capacities. It could successfully complete the economic cycle of transformation into an industrial economy from an agrarian one. Its rate of poverty has fallen to only 5 per cent of the population from over 50 per cent only two decades ago in contrast to Bangladesh's present poverty liners of around 40 per cent. Malaysia that had the same amount of per capita income as Bangladesh twenty years ago now has a per capita income which is 12 times more than the one of Bangladesh. It can boast also a relatively much higher rate of literacy than Bangladesh and an effective social security system not to be found in most of the Muslim countries. It enjoys a remarkably pollution free environment and this factor , plus its mega projects like its ultra modern city of Putrajaya with the world's highest twin towers and other attractions, has made Malaysia a favourite of the world's holiday seekers.
The comparisons between Bangladesh and Malaysia come to mind again and again because the two countries are like cousin brothers who started off in similar conditions in their march towards modernity, economic development and social progress. But one has already attained so much of advancement in all areas when time stood still for the other.
In Bangladesh, we are mired in hopelessness and a sense of direction. Our problems are mounting but there is no sign that leaders are concerned in the slightest to take care of them. For example, take the case of traffic jams in Dhaka. Government leaders blame the jams on rising population in the city and increase in the number of vehicles. But they have nothing to say about poor traffic policing, inefficiency in operating simple infrastructures such as automatic signalling lights that alone are the main reasons for the jams. The jams can ease only if people in the highest level of governance cast their eyes on the problem and try to do something about it. But they won't because they have no trouble going round jams in flag bedecked cars with police escorting them and stopping all others to clear the roads for them to speed through.
The standard of education in Bangladesh is falling. But so what ? The corrupt members of the elite here have ample money from their corruption to send their children abroad to study and never to return. Many such examples are there that depict the utter selfishness and lack of character of our leaders.
Will they be sensitised in any way from knowing about Mahathir's Malaysia ? No chance of that surely knowing their mind sets developed over years of living luxuriously off the people and the country. Only greater people's consciousness of this central problem of lack of leadership and their building a strong enough movement for change may create some hope for Bangladesh.