One Man's Obsession
Mahathir has done much, but the pursuit of power may be his undoing
By CHANDRA MUZAFFAR
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AP |
His power pervades. his authority penetrates. his influence permeates. For almost 18 years, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has sought to dominate and control Malaysian society as no other leader has ever done.
Although an active and articulate opposition has resisted Mahathir's power for years, the majority of Malaysians until recently had only accolades for his many achievements. He accelerated economic growth through an export-driven industrialization program, raised entrepreneurial skills and improved the work ethic of the populace. He also developed the nation's infrastructure--though some of his mammoth projects, such as the 88-story Petronas Towers (currently the world's tallest), were economically and socially questionable. Moreover, Mahathir has been an outspoken champion of the developing world. His advocacy of a just international financial system to protect emerging economies from the vagaries of volatile equity capital is winning supporters even in the rich countries of the West.
But as Mahathir waxes eloquent on the importance of justice in the global system, his inability to eliminate injustice at home has become increasingly obvious to a discerning minority. As he concentrates more and more power in his hands, the principle of accountability and the right to dissent--cornerstones of democratic governance--have been subordinated to his frenzied pursuit of growth. Indeed, most Malaysians were lulled into a complacency generated by the economic boom of the late '80s and '90s. That helps explain why the financial crisis that hit Southeast Asia in mid-1997 was such a rude awakening. Malaysians began to realize that Mahathir's overwhelming power had spawned a corporate élite whose interests took precedence over the well-being of the people.
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