True-Blue Tawfik Targets the Toxic Topmost Tier

The true-blue Tawfik Tun Dr. Ismail’s bid to challenge Dato Seri Haji Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the latter’s own parliamentary stronghold is of symbolic as well as substantial significance.

Tawfik represents not only top talent but a custodial genre of classy technocrats from an illustrious family who regarded public service as a duty to be carried out with selfless sincerity, sobriety and a strict adherence to the ideals of full accountability, good governance, the law, and transparency. Tunku Abdul Rahman has written several glowing tributes to the three Rahman brothers- Tawfik’s father Dr. Ismail and his two brothers Sulaiman and Yassin.

Dato'Sulaiman had particularly impressed the Tunku when, in 1955, he had given up his safe seat in Batu Pahat to contest against the powerful Dato Onn bin Jaafar in the latter’s own stronghold in Johor Baru. Sulaiman secured the largest majority in that election because he represented the changing times and trends of that era. That same Tunku had in the 1960s renamed Brockman Road Jalan Dato Onn where the Prime Minister’s complex was located. That was a mark of the magnanimity and majesty of those times when leaders were bighearted and brutally honest. The Tunku wanted every letter that emanated from the Prime Minister’s Office to have Dato Onn’s name so that future generations would honor Dato Onn’s important contributions.

Today, 67 years later, Tawfik, instead of looking for a safe parliamentary seat, is clearly enunciating his strong opposition to Haji Zahid Hamidi, the beleaguered president of UMNO who is better known for his alleged white-collar crimes for which he is being tried.

In contrast, Tawfik represents the impeccable integrity, intellectual prowess, and courage of an apostle for good governance, accountability, and transparency. The nation undoubtedly needs political leaders and technocrats who can steer it in the direction of saving and salvaging it from the damage done by the 1MDB scandal, both internally and internationally.

Malaysia needs to rebuild its reputation, reinvent internal controls and resilience to strengthen its administration, and the capacity to allocate its resources to achieve greater unity, growth, and a fair economic equilibrium.

Tawfik, that flawless diamond, has the advantage of a good name and family fame as he heads to a valiant contest in the vicinity of Diamond Bay in the Silver state.

We have to sympathize with the besieged underdog in this battle as he has to also contend with ongoing court proceedings.

M Santhananaban

October 18, 2022