Two Good Men - Malaysiakini

Amidst the chaos of power seizing and party hopping, their words and deeds are so maverick. They are Gua Musang Umno Division Chief Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (Ku Li) and DAP Chairman Karpal Singh.

Ku Li, a former Finance Minister, is of Kelantan royal descent. In 1987, he challenged the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during the party elections. Although he was not successful, he shocked the country and triggered great waves in the political arena.

The regime change in Perak boosted the morale of the party but Ku Li chose to play the Cassandra's role, burning himself by criticising the government and saying no fine words. However, he was just advising earnestly and kindly.

Meanwhile, Karpal Singh is the National Chairman of DAP. He is outspoken and he would criticise whoever he thinks is wrong, including DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng and even the Sultan.

Politicians like Ku Li and Karpal Singh are doomed to stand on the edge and suffer every hell.

Ku Li is not Deng Xiaoping, who has eventually become the chief engineer of China's reform after three rises and three falls, leaving his name on the list of great men in the history. But for Ku Li, he seems to only pursuit for power throughout his life and is lack of a politician's tolerance and thoughtfulness.

Ku Li was not having a good time in Umno over the past 40 years. Deng went through rises and falls but Ku Li only suffered falls. He was defeated by Tun Musa Hitam for the Deputy President post and failed to challenge Dr Mahathir for the President post. He then quitted the party and founded Semangat 46 which was as well ended in failure. Eventually, he had to bow to political reality and returned to Umno.

Today, Ku Li is merely a small Member of Parliament with lessening power in Umno, occasionally grabbing attentions with resounding remarks.

As for Karpal Singh, the warrior on a wheelchair, even though he looks old, but his fighting spirit is still as high as he was young. And the recent attack was directed to many targets at the same time – Pakatan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng and the Sultan of Perak.

Some said Karpal is having the political courage but without political wisdom. They said he rampages all the way like a bull without knowing when to advance and when to retreat. That is why he can never achieve but always ruin.

Just like Ku Li, Karpal is undiplomatic, inflexible and too stubborn. The difference would be, Karpal's stance has always been the same. He abides by the law and principles. His political conduct would make those political frogs deeply ashamed.

Neither Ku Li nor Karpal is god. They have their own shortcomings and they have their own inadequacies to become politicians. But both of them represent the conscience of their parties. They are upright and outspoken; open and aboveboard good men.

In the face of the temptation of money and amidst the power battle, the Malaysian political arena will certainly be more quiet, fewer arguments and less interesting without the two of them. (By LIM MUN FAH/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)