Dynasties... are they a problem? (updated & reposted)

So let's be clear about this: there is nothing intrinsically wrong with children inheriting a busyness or political position from their parents - so long as they are capable and will do as well, if not better. Indeed, this is perfectly natural a phenomenon since some qualities do get passed down the genetic line. 

Even more often, children of famous people will achieve fame on their own terms in a totally different field - but just as often, they get eclipsed by their father's celebrity and end up struggling with an identity crisis.

I have absolutely no problem with the idea of politicians I like and admire - Kit Siang, Anwar, Karpal, to name a few - passing their legacies on to the next generation, so long as their children are equally, if not more, admirable. In the case of all three, I'm pleased that all their progeny have turned out fairly capable and electable. Can't say the same for Mahathir's kids, though... or Najib's... or Badawi's psychopathic drug-peddling son-in-law.

A tribute to Karpal Singh & his trusty sidekick Michael S.V. Cornelius

Don Quixote & his trusty sidekick Sancho Panza

The nation was stunned and aggrieved when news broke of Karpal Singh's fatal car accident in the wee hours of 17 April 2014. In the Toyota Alphard with Karpal was his personal assistant, Michael Selvam Vellu Cornelius (39) who has long served the Tiger of Jelutong, helping him in and out of his wheelchair and selflessly attending to his needs.

Both Michael and Karpal were instantaneously killed by the impact, while Karpal's 38-year-old son Ramkarpal and the driver were slightly hurt. Also in the car was their Indonesian maid who sustained severe injuries and has been hospitalized.

Thinking about the way Karpal's loyal assistant Michael followed his illustrious master through the portal of death beyond the call of duty, I was reminded of Don Quixote and his faithful companion Sancho Panza. 

Miguel Cervantes published his classic Don Quixote novels in the early 17th century as a vehicle to explore his own apprehensions as the Western world transited from the Age of Chivalry to a new Age of Exploration, Invention and Adventurism. In a famous scene, Don Quixote attacks a windmill with his knightly lance, mistaking it for a monster. This spawned the phrase "tilting at windmills" which can either mean doing battle with illusory enemies - or crusading against monolithic institutions, seemingly impossible to modify, upgrade or dismantle.

Karpal Singh was a true lion among men but he was affectionately known as 
the Tiger of Jelutong - a constituency in Penang he represented in Parliament for 21 years 

Karpal Singh courageously stood up to the rising tide of religious and racial fanaticism to the very end. His last words in Parliament were: "Stop playing around with the Constitution!"

He was prepared to throw the book at all miscreants, even if their royal status provided a measure of immunity. In a nation caught between the feudal and digital age, Karpal was among the outstanding few who had the nerve to face the dire consequences of his public criticism of royal misdemeanors. 

Political columnist Karim Raslan wrote of Karpal: "He was the kind of man who called a spade a spade and then proceeded to hit an adversary over the head with the same spade."

Fierce but approachable: Karpal Singh by T.V. Smith

His outspokenness and adherence to principles caused ripples of unease among friends and foes alike. Much as he desired to see authentic change in the government, he wasn't  prepared to bend the rules to attain his political objectives. He voiced his personal opinions, even at the risk of stepping on friendly toes. 

While his political colleagues and allies chose to gloss over ideological differences for the sake of a united front, Karpal always made it clear that the Federal Constitution protected freedom of belief - and that the notion of an Islamic state under Syariah law was antagonistic and anathema to the concept of a secular democracy as enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution.

Here was an indefatigable defender of justice - loved and admired by the honorable, feared by the hypocritical, and loathed by the mediocre. Whence comes such another? Bless you and thank you, great soul!

AN OPEN LETTER TO KARPAL SINGH

Malaysiakini, 8 Feb 2009

Dear Karpal,

You have been banging your head against the BN brick wall for nearly 40 years. I have long admired and loved you for your indomitable warrior spirit, which reveals you to be of authentic khalsa pedigree. With your brilliant grasp of the law you have stood out as one of the finest legal minds in the region. The few times we have met I noticed you almost glowed with the aura of a saint, and I saw you as a spiritual warrior who would fight to the death for what you believe to be right.

However, ever since the political tsunami of 8 March 2008, you have become a lot grouchier and much more pugnacious. Initially, I figured it would take you a bit of time to adjust to the new political realities wherein the DAP, which you have loyally served for so many decades, is no longer confined to playing the perennial role of Loyal Opposition. Indeed, along with its partners in the Pakatan Rakyat, the DAP must now get used to being in charge - just as Lim Guan Eng has had to swiftly adapt to being the Chief Minister of Penang, not just somebody paid to give BN a hard time in parliament and maintain the illusion of democracy.


When you're in charge, there is no longer any advantage in being perceived as "strident" or "quarrelsome." Indeed, when one is in power, one must become more accepting and understanding of others, and speak in gentler - but more authoritative - tones.

In recent days we have all witnessed the magnificent spirit of enlightened and noble leadership that Perak MB Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin personifies. He has stood up firmly and with impressive dignity to being dismissed as MB by the Sultan of Perak - and he has done so without a trace of rancor or rudeness. We could point to this and call it the silver lining to an otherwise dark cloud: the constitutional crisis in Perak and the kurang ajar manner in which YB Nizar has been mistreated by the BN faction has brought forth shining qualities within this young leader we otherwise would never know existed. YB Nizar has conducted himself with such impeccable aplomb and courage, Malaysians are now saying he is PM material - and indeed I agree he is.

What's remarkable is that YB Nizar's appeal as a leader transcends all party lines and racial barriers. We see him as a good, intelligent, approachable, humble, inspiring man - not as the PAS Mentri Besar of Perak.

Well, it's Nizar's job on the line - and he has never once blamed Anwar Ibrahim for the current political imbroglio. Nor has he threatened to sue the Sultan for making an arguably unwise decision, possibly swayed by business considerations.

Now more than ever the rakyat would like to see a strong, united Pakatan Rakyat focused on replacing Umno/BN as the federal government. Not one where every other leader is a loose cannon that can scuttle the ship anytime for the most absurd reasons. True, the Pakatan Rakyat espouses the spirit and not merely the letter of democratic ideals - and therefore must allow for dissenting views on various issues.

Nevertheless, it is one thing to voice disagreement and quite another to attack your political allies and colleagues in such a truculent and aggressive manner as to cause internal injury. The last thing we want is to see the Pakatan Rakyat coalition disintegrate before it has even had a chance to govern the nation.


Dear Karpal, in my humble opinion, Anwar is a highly intelligent man, albeit openly ambitious (and that is hardly a crime). If there are painful lessons to be learnt from the Perak party-hopping debacle, I have no doubt Anwar will very quickly learn them. There is absolutely no call to publicly whack him on the head with your umbrella. Anwar's detractors will certainly view this as extremely comical and seize upon your criticism as fuel for their gigantic spin machines.

Your demand for Anwar to step down as Pakatan leader at this juncture is unjustified and perhaps even suicidal. Without Anwar's powers of persuasion and his moderating influence, fundamentalist voices (from both ends of the spectrum) will rise to the fore and ruin all our hopes for authentic change in Malaysia.

Dear Karpal, I value honesty and outspokenness above most other traits. I am not in politics because, like you, I'm inclined to have a short fuse - and when angry am capable of shooting my mouth off and hurting a lot of people's feelings. But you, Karpal, are a veteran politician and really ought to know better, especially as you approach your 69th solar orbit. Clearly, the patriarchal control freak latent in your DNA is beginning to emerge and with increasing frequency. I have seen 90-year-old Sikh patriarchs scare the living daylights out of their burly 40-year-old grandsons. Please, dear friend, don't give in to those destructive propensities. Good families have broken down and become dysfunctional because of uncontrollable irascibility on the part of white-bearded, stern-faced patriarchs with absolutely no sense of humor and who cannot tolerate new ways of doing things.

May I suggest that you take a break from the emotionally charged atmosphere in Perak? Take time out to recuperate from the psychic toxins of being immersed for so many decades in a BN-dominated parliament. Be a child again with your grandchildren, a loving, inspiring father to your wonderful progeny, an affectionate husband to your supportive wife, and a wise, compassionate friend to the multitudes who adore and respect you as a living saint.

And I'm sure you have in you the goodness of heart and wisdom to apologize to Anwar for your outburst. Leave the fate of this nation in the collective hands of the rakyat - or of God, if you happen to be a believer. Come back and rejoin the fray when you're well rested and together let us fulfil the aspirations of a beautiful young nation.

Antares
~^@^~