It Doesn't Pay To Be A Nice Guy?
I recently read an excellent article written by New Straits Times Press (NSTP) Group Deputy Chairman Datuk Seri Kalimullah Hassan. Oops, the deputy chairman who has tendered his resignation from the company.
Kalimullah grabbed other's attentions over the past few years because of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Dr M saw him as incumbent Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's adviser, Umno Youth Deputy Chairman Khairy Jamaluddin's bosom buddy and business partner. And many accusations were against Kalimullah.
In grievances against Umno's early power change and Pak Lah's fate, Kalimullah poured out at his last days in NST. The article was entitled "It Doesn't Pay To Be A Nice Guy". Of course, the nice guy here was referring to Pak Lah.He admitted that many wrong decisions and unfulfilled promises have led Abdullah to today's situation. He said, however, those leaders who should bear the responsible together with Abdullah, did not do so. Instead, they hit Abdullah when he was down.
| "It was not Abdullah, but Umno, that refused to change." |
Kalimullah pointed out that in Umno, as long as a leader is in power, all will bend over backwards to be seen as loyal. However, when the leader is in trouble, all will back off and abandon the "sinking ship".
The main point was referring to Dr M, who Kalimullah claimed to have used up all thoughtful considerations and strategies to overthrow Abdullah.
Kalimullah wrote that the only thing that Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will not have to worry about is his predecessor will not breath down his neck and slander him, like Dr M.
Kalimullah's advice to Najib is be careful of people around him.
"There are two other lessons that Najib can learn from Abdullah. One, that the openness and freedom Abdullah allowed cannot be turned back; and two, that it does not pay to be a nice guy in politics," written Kalimullah.
More importantly, no more racial politics, religious bigotry and money politics for Umno. It was not Abdullah, but Umno, that refused to change.
Basically, Kalimullah was not giving a fresh point of view but the article gave a special feeling as it was written by a man from Abdullah's camp. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)
