Screenshots: Dongeng?

FACT: Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi met his former boss Dr Mahathir Mohamd briefly on the sideline of the Nikkei Economic Conference in Tokyo recently.

QUESTION: Who made the overture for that brief encounter?

Rashomon again. There are at least two versions of 'truth' being circulated in print and cyberspace, respectively.

The print version by Kalimullah Masheerul Hassan (June 11, 2006):

The Prime Minister was in Japan shortly after the Malaysiakini article appeared and was told that Dr Mahathir wanted to come and see him.

Abdullah, in the midst of breakfast with aides and officials, immediately put on his tie and told the ambassador that he would go and see his ex-boss rather than let Dr Mahathir come down and see him.

The online version by Raja Petra Kamarudin (June 6, 2006):

When Abdullah used a common friend (one of the doctors in his entourage) to arrange a meeting with Mahathir in Tokyo during the recent Nikkei conference in late May, Mahathir was of course reluctant to accept. But he could not refuse to meet the Prime Minister as he was told that Abdullah was already on his way to his hotel suite and could hardly turn back. Nevertheless, this did stop Mahathir from ‘doing a Tunku’. He pretended to be in a hurry and, after dismissing Abdullah with some hellos, grunts and umphs, the ‘courtesy call’ was all over in less than ten minutes.

In spite of Kalimullah Hassan Masheerul Hassan’s and Brendan Pereira’s attempt to portray a reconciliation with the great giant of UMNO politics, the meeting had all the excitement of a hospital morgue.

Who, between Mahathir and Abdullah, made the initiative to meet up? The facts contained therein, as put in contrast, above, are contradictory and mutually exclusive to each other.

In the best scenario, only either one version could be true. In the worst, both may be dongeng.

You have to tell us -- beyond reasonable doubt -- the plausibility of the fact that would not jeapardise the overall believability of the respective central theses hawked by both writers.

You also have to tell us if by affixing a Prophet's tag to one's name could lend him moral high-horse over the other.

To those uninitiated in Bahasa Melayu, 'dongeng' can be loosely translated as tall-tale.

Comments

Who is telling TALL tales? I certainly cannot tell.

What is common between the two tales is the humble nature of Pak Lah.

Either he took the initiative nd went on his way to see Dr M, or Dr M wanted to come and see him, but Pak Lah stopped immedaitely in the midst of his breakfast to go and see Dr M.

Kalimullah's version reflects well on both men, while Raja Petra's version makes Dr M look bad.

But Pak Lah "merendahkan diri" and despite being the PM, showed much respect to the former PM. Which in Asian and Malay culture is so much more cultured and refined.

Whatever else is dongeng, that part of the tales is true, I think.

Posted by: Leithaisor | June 12, 2006 08:44 AM

How can they be too sure that the rakyat had endorsed Pak Lah during the 2004 general election?
I am sure that most of the votes that BN got in 2004 was because of the people's gratitude towards Tun Dr M for the development that he had brought during this premiership.
I voted BN because of Tun Dr Mahathir.
So, to my UMNO brothers and sisters, "SEDARLAH". Don't be a hyprocrite.

Posted by: YgArif | June 12, 2006 09:58 AM

YgAriff,

How sure you are that the landslide victory in the last election was because paying gratitude to Mahathir? Is it not because of Mahathir had retired, and Abdullah seemed to be giving the hope. Pak Lah was not combative with PAS, and PAS looks stunned not knowing to do and definitely, had lost a lots of idea because previously, PAS had riding on Anuar case succesfully.

Posted by: syedhs | June 12, 2006 10:29 AM

Actually I dont really care about tell-tales, and I am not going to defend Kalimullah either. But the chronology of stories, they are all true as it has been made known to the public. The chronologies are important as these gives the 'right context' which is needed for most of the time.

Posted by: syedhs | June 12, 2006 10:31 AM

Hi Jeff

Thanks for highlighting Raja Petra Kamarudin's article in your blog.

I wish to thank all the intelligent, responsible & honourable bloggers for the ongoing education and enlightenment.

We must consolidate our efforts to put a stop to the demonized system of lying, cheating and stealing.

Posted by: dignity2u | June 12, 2006 10:52 AM

Brothers,

I had a "DREAM" last night that i thought might just be interesting enough to be heard by all of you.

Imagine in about seven months from now the tale begins.......

The Tale of The Enchanted Link....

A meeting takes place between four countries
Singapore - represented by 1.Temasek Holdings
2.UOB Singapore

Malaysia - represented by
1. CIMB
2. UEM

Japan - represented by
1. Nippon Bank

China - represented by
2. Shanghai Investment Corporation

This private group comes up with a proposal......

To build a Under Straits Tunnel linking Singapore and Johor.

The pros to the proposal and the agreement between the 4 countries:
a) The proposal is initiated by the private sector with funding from issuance of international bonds. So no public funds required.... however there will be a toll conssession period.

b) It would be the first tunnel linking two countries in Asia. Why should there only be a tunnel between France and Britain.... Asia pun boleh.

c) Singapore Government would agree because, the tunnel would allow water to flow freely accross the straits and try to save the polluted straits. But at the same time, it would not allow large shipping veesel pass through it due to safety reasons. Thus saving the losing of port facilities to Johor.

d) The tunnel would complete the link from Singpore-Malaysia-Thailand-Vietnam-Shanghai and generate the much awaited enonomic expansion in asean.

e) Japanese interest is solely on the tunnel technology and funding as as to enable them to build their own tunnel later to link its islands.

f) Malaysia already has the equipment required in the form of the large drilling machines occupied for the construction of the tunnel inthe flood mitigation in KL.

Whaaaaaaa....... the dream was continuing........ until suddenly i awoke........ by daughter who jump on me and woke me up in the morning.

Guys ...... give your comments...... Remember.........this was only in my 'DREAMS'....... only 'DREAMS' and nothing else.

Posted by: oldwus | June 12, 2006 12:29 PM

Hey oldwus, wet ones as well...

Posted by: Yumcious | June 12, 2006 12:57 PM

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