OCT 13 — “The election is a means of measuring our strength and popularity with the voters and not about securing seats” ~ Tun Dr Ismail.
The late Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman honesty is often projected with just one story - when a vendor gave him a basket of fruits of appreciation during a festive season, Dr Ismail promptly returned the basket saying it was an unnecessary reward as he was already receiving a salary as a deputy Prime Minister.
This anecdote speaks volumes at a time where activists, opposition parties, fishermen, farmers, women and even children have taken to social media to express their contempt at the avalanche of corruption scandals involving billions of people’s money through various abbreviations 1MDB, SRC or LCS.
Dr Ismail has been described as the “the best Prime Minister Malaysia ever had” when he was an acting Prime Minister.
Malaysians trusted and believed in him. Once he gave his word he stood by it. And once he planned something, he would go through the relevant details and implement them.
Reflecting the same moral compass as his father, Tawfik Ismail the son of Tun Dr Ismail has announced that he would stand as an independent candidate with a slogan, “Rakyat vs Rasuah” (People vs Corruption.)
Within a heartbeat of his announcement that he will contest against Umno president Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi, there was an outpour of well-wishers offering support, resources and various pledges.
Tawfik was 35 when he won the Sungai Benut seat in 1986 but left Umno after the party’s crisis in 1987, when the feud between Tun Dr Mahathir and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah led the deregistration of Umno.
Today the 71-year-old Tawfik is now ready not only to return to politics but to take on the president of the Umno.
“My father, Dr Ismail died as an acting prime minister in a house he owned. He asked for no reward or recognition for giving his life to the nation he loved.
“I cannot stand to see corruption as’ ‘normal.” It is my time to clean up corruption, and offer my children and grandchildren a better Malaysia to live in,” promised the former MP for Sungai Benut.
We respect politicians if they speak up as game changers without the fear of losing their seats. Being an independent candidate needs a noble art which needs to be carefully and painstakingly worked for a larger good for the people.
To this effect most of the battles in GE15 will be a battleground between “people versus power and greed.”
Right now, the entire Rakyat’s wellbeing is compromised and minimised by infinite possibilities of extortion and corruption by some political leaders.
Right now, we have a highly urbanized and very well-connected online citizenry, an influx of younger voters, and automatic voter registration promising to be one voice against corruption.
No matter what the personal identities are, voters are reconfiguring a new political Malaysian brand while questioning integrity and accountability.
Tawfik comes from an illustrious and impeccable family background. It is a blessing that Tawfik is reminding us that untainted core values did exist in an earlier Malaysia.
“I know voters all over Malaysia will share my principles and values, I will prove to them that I am fearless and that I will not put them in any disadvantaged situation.”
“As a Malay of some pedigree, I have a personal stake in the history of this country, as my grandfathers both maternal and paternal and my father and uncles sacrificed themselves for the respectability and honour of not just the Malays but for all loyal Malaysians.
“My late uncle Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Rahman fought and defeated Datuk Onn Jaafar and my grandfather, Datuk Seth Said defied the late Sultan of Johor, Sultan Ibrahim for Malay dignity and integrity.
“It is my time to do what is necessary so my children and grandchildren will have a model to look to in the future,” he assured.
Malaysians will certainly watch him bated breath during his campaigning as well as during the day of the polls.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or organisation and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail.
