Terence Fernandez：政客忘记他们也是凡人

《HIGHLANDER》（高地人），1986年的动作奇幻片，是一部备受许多电影迷视为“必看”的经典电影。这部电影由克里斯托弗兰伯特（Christopher Lambert）和辛康纳利（Sean Connery）主演，由英国摇滚乐队皇后乐队（Queen）配乐，讲述了不朽的战士们数百年来为争夺“奖赏”而残杀的故事，最终，就如影片的宣传标语般，“唯我独尊”（there can be only one）只有胜利者能活下。

这部电影吸引了无数的影迷，也延伸出数部续集和电视连续剧，显然的一些人非常热衷于永生的想法。其中就包括一些政治人物和掮客，他们试图确保首相马哈迪任相至下一届大选，甚至更为荒谬的是，永远的担任首相。

马哈迪是世界上最老的首相，他将于7月年满95岁。如果他担任完5年的首相任期，那么当第15届大选时，他将是98岁。

一些政治人物，包括反对党巫统和伊党通过法定宣誓动议支持马哈迪任完5年首相的行为，而没有制定一套的应变计划，是完全荒谬和不负责任的。

希盟政府最不负责任的事情，就是对于接班人计划依然含糊不清是。因此，拿督斯里安华的呼吁，即应把关注力放在经济上，而不是政治化希盟成员党的问题，希望能引起各方共鸣，包括其领导的公正党党员。

交棒需明确安排

安华呼吁的优先事项，也应是政府应优先关注的事，尤其国行公布的2019年第4季国内生产总值（GDP）增长率只有3.6%，这是自2009年以来最低的增速。

马哈迪遗憾人们仍然支持（被指）挪用纳税人金钱的前首相。

事实是，盗贼统治下，在中央集权果断政策和决策推动下，我国在2017年取得了5.9％的经济增长。

关于果断上，马哈迪应该意识到投资者的情绪，即需要一个明确的交替安排，而不是反复不定的日期，更充满著权斗和似乎还有安华之外的第8任首相人选。

人民和投资者可能不太在乎谁是下任首相人选──但至少要确保出事时，有人可以接管掌舵，尤其对于一个90多岁的人，什么事情都可随时发生。马哈迪不是不朽的。他不是“高地人”。他不可能永生。

安华本人也70多岁了，而希盟必须拟订至少未来10年的发展路线图。

当国阵执政时，盟党都同意首相及副首相职位由巫统的党主席，署理主席和3位副主席人选中选出。尽管这种安排遭到批评，但它确实提供了确定性和稳定性，这是国家成长至关重要的两大要素。而希盟却没有明确的安排。

马哈迪第一次任首相时被指是破坏体制的专制独裁（有人说如今也是如此，只是做得更委婉）。

不过，在马哈迪第一任首相任期，马来西亚在1996年取得有史以来最高的经济增长──10％。同时，马哈迪的政策也使大马渡过1980年代中期和90年代的两次经济危机。

也许在马哈迪最后一次为民服务中，应该专注于再次带领我们摆脱当前经济困境。他当年的2020年愿景未能实现。如果按照计划，1991年宣布宏愿大计时出生的孩子，如今应如发达国家的高收入者。

不幸的是，他们如今构成了失业的主体（青年失业率高达11％），一些更需要打两分工，外卖服务员和电召车司机等。

马哈迪就如其他人一样，不是不朽的。时间并不在他那边，这是他最近承认的事情，他感到疲倦并且不打算任满5年首相，并会在11月于我国主办的亚太经济合作组织峰会（APEC）后退位。

有了这个方向，希盟是时候团结一致，开始拟定交替的过渡计划──别忘了将首相任期限制为两届，是希盟的改革承诺之一。在健全的民主国家中，反对派不管是巫统或伊党，都会有所回应──暗中搞破坏。

但是，希盟作为负责任的政治联盟，在509实现打败国阵的不可能壮举之后，应该集中精力实现人民的希望和愿望，来保住政权。不幸的是，希盟的行为，犹如自取灭亡，如马来谚语，“猴子得花”（kera mendapat bunga），不懂得珍惜人们给予的机会。

我们都是凡人，但我们的事迹可以不朽。历史将如何记载马哈迪和希盟这些政治人物，在很大程度上将取决于他们接下来几个月的表现。

邓小平逝世后，即使是强大的中国也陷入了经济低迷。邓小平是中国现代化的“建筑师”，但人们也会铭记，他没有妥善的接班人安排和革除能干的副手事迹。

《政客忘记他们也是凡人》（When politicians forget they too are mortal）原文：

HIGHLANDER, the 1986 action fantasy is a cult classic that remains on the “must watch” list of many a movie buff.
With a cast lead by Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery, and a soundtrack powered by Queen, Highlander tells the tale of immortal warriors battling each other for “the prize” over centuries, where at the end, as the film’s tagline announces, “there can be only one”.

While the film has earned millions of fans, several sequels and rip-offs and a television series, it seems that some people have also taken quite keenly to the idea of someone who can live forever.

Among them are a number of politicians and deal makers who are trying to ensure Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad serve out his full term – or even more ridiculously – indefinitely.

Dr. Mahathir who turns 95 in July, is the world’s oldest prime minister. If he were to serve out his full term, then he would (presumably) be 98 when the 15th General Election is called.

The move by several politicians including opposition parties UMNO and PAS for a motion to support him for a full term as prime minister through a move of confidence supported by a purported statutory declaration, without a contingency plan is downright ludicrous and irresponsible.

That a succession plan remains vague is the most irresponsible thing this Pakatan Harapan (PH) Government has done or omitted to do.

Hopefully Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is not alone in his opinion that the economy should be taking precedence, not the politicking among coalition party members, including members of his own party, PKR.

His priorities should be the priority of the Government where the economy expanded by a dismal 3.6% under its watch – the slowest growth since 2009 according to Bank Negara.

Dr. Mahathir had lamented on how people can still support a former prime minister whom (allegedly) stole taxpayers’ money.

The reality is that despite the thievery that was going on, the economy grew by 5.9% in 2017 – fueled by a centralised leadership and decisive policies and decision-making processes.

On the topic of decisiveness, Dr. Mahathir should be aware of the investor sentiments for a need of a clear succession path and not a flip flopping of succession dates, peppered with political infighting and a seemingly preferred candidate other than Anwar as eight prime minister.

The people and investors may not care so much for whom – but at least ensure that there is somebody available to take over the helm in the event of the inevitable, where, in the case of a nonagenarian, could happen at any moment.
Dr.Mahathir is not immortal. He is not a Highlander. And no, there cannot be only one.

Anwar himself is in his 70s, and the coalition must chart the path of the country for at least the next 10 years.
When Barisan Nasional (BN) ruled, it was accepted that UMNO would provide the prime minister and deputy prime minister, from its collection of party president, deputy president and three vice presidents.

While this arrangement has its fair share of detractors, however, it does provide certainty and stability – two components which are vital to a growth of a nation.There is no clear arrangement in PH.

Dr. Mahathir’s first tenure as prime minister was autocratic with institutions compromised (some say the same is true today but done more subtly).

However, Malaysia achieved its highest ever economic growth of 10% in 1996. To his credit, Dr. Mahathir’s policies pulled the country out of two economic crisis in the mid-1980s and 90s.

Perhaps in his last leg of public service, Dr. Mahathir should be allowed to be focused on achieving a hattrick of getting us out of the current economic predicament. His Vision 2020 has fallen short. The children who were born in 1991 when the Vision was announced were meant to be high income earners in a developed nation today.

Unfortunately, they form the bulk of youth unemployment (11%) and those needing to hold down two jobs as food delivery personnel and ride hailing service providers among others.

No, Dr. Mahathir, like the rest of us, is not immortal. Time sadly, is not on his side, and this is something he has admitted to recently, that he was tired and does not intend to serve a full term, stepping down after the culmination of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in November, which we are hosting.

With this target to work towards to, it is probably the right time for the PH coalition to close ranks and start charting the transition and post transition plans – bearing in mind that limiting the tenure of the prime minister to two terms is one of the reforms promised by PH.

The Opposition be it UMNO or PAS will do what it is meant to do in a healthy democracy – undermine their political rivals.

However, a responsible political block such as PH which after finally achieving the impossible feat of unseating BN should be focused on staying in power by fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people.

Unfortunately, the way PH has been behaving which will ultimately lead to its own destruction, brings to mind the Malay saying, “a monkey receiving a flower”.

We may be mortal but the memories of our deeds need not be. How history will remember Dr. Mahathir and this crop of political leaders will largely depend on how they behave in these next few months.

Even the mighty China fell into economic doldrums following the demise of Deng Xiaoping – the architect of modern China who is also remembered for sacking anointed his deputies and his failure to chart a proper succession plan.