The Malaysian Insight

FORMER minister Zainuddin Maidin has blamed Dr Mahathir Mohmad for his “materialistic values” which has fostered corruption in Umno and led to the party’s state of decline.

In Zainuddin’s new book, “Pergi Mampuslah Umno” (Go die-lah, Umno), he derides Dr Mahathir for placing too much emphasis on the need for Malays to be rich when he was Umno president.

“I hold Dr Mahathir Mohamad responsible for what is happening now,” said the former Merbok MP.

“He had said earlier on that one should rely on materialistic values to be a respected and honourable Malay. Malays must be rich and besides dominating politics, they must also dominate the Malay economy.

“That is true but in the process of forming a strong, economically driven nation, Mahathir had sidelined good values,” Zainuddin told The Malaysian Insight in conjunction with the publication of his book.

Dr Mahathir, who now heads opposition pact Pakatan Harapan, has accused Prime Minister Najib Razak of corruption and economic mismanagement. Najib was Dr Mahathir’s protege but they fell out over the prime minister’s style of leadership and alleged involvement in the embezzlement of billions of dollars from state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Zainuddin said while the Najib administration was tainted by scandal, the blame lies with Dr Mahathir for failing to rein in corrupt behaviour in government during his 22-year tenure as prime minister.

He charged that cronyism occurred on a large scale during Dr Mahathir’s era, but declined to divulges names or give examples.

Despite the claims of his detractors that his children have benefitted materially from his position as prime minister, Dr Mahathir has maintained that his family members have made it on their own.

The former information minister said while he was disappointed at the scandal surrounding Najib and the current leadership in Umno, he had always supported the party.

“I started keeping up with Tunku Abdul Rahman’s updates when I was 18. I have seen Umno from the beginning. I am disappointed in what Najib had done. I had never experienced a situation like this with the former prime ministers.

“I am more Umno than Najib.”

Zainuddin, whose book is a compilation of his blog entries since 2013, also said he no longer has an interest in participating in politics and would never join another political party.

“I will not be a member of any other political party because I do not have political aspirations. Journalism is my individual battlefield,” he added.

He said he would continue to give constructive criticism and be a check on the political leadership.

“I still have my journalism spirit and I will always speak up. I am not interested in politics or joining any other parties.” – October 22, 2017.