Tun Dr Mahathir - Perjuangan Yang Belum Selesai

Sesungguhnya tida ada yang lebih menyayat
dari melihat bangsaku dijajah,
Tidak ada yang lebih menyedihkan dari
membiarkan bangsaku dihina,

Airmata tiada ertinya,
sejarah silam tiada maknanya,
sekiranya bangsa tercinta terpinggir,
dipersenda dan dilupakan,

Bukan kecil langkah wira bangsa
para pejuang kemerdekaan
bagi menegakkan kemuliaan dan darjat bangsa
selangkah bererti mara mengharung sejuta dugaan

Biar bertatih
asalkan langkah itu yakin dan cermat
bagi memastikan negara merdeka dan bangsa terpelihara,
air mata sengsara mengiringi setiap langkah bapa-bapa kita,

Tugas kita bukan kecil
kerana mengisi kemerdekaan
rupanya lebih sukar dari bermandi keringat
dan darah menuntutnya

Lagi pula apalah ertinya kemerdekaan
kalau bangsaku asyik meniya dan menidakkan
mengangguk dan membenarkan kerana
sekalipun bangganya negara
kerana makmur dan mewahnya,
Banngsaku masih melata dan meminta-minta di negaranya sendiri

Bukan kecil tugas kita meneruskan perjuangan kemerdekaan kita,
kerana rupanya selain memerdekakan,
mengisi kemerdekaan itu jauh lebih sengsara

Bangsaku bukan kecil hati dan jiwanya
bukankah sejak zaman berzaman
mereka menjadi pelaut, pemngembara
malah penakluk terkemuka?

Bukankah mereka sudah mengembangkan sayap,
menjadi pedagang dan peniaga,
selain menjadi ulama dan ilmuan terbilang?

Bukankah bangsaku pernah mengharung samudera
menjajah dunia yang tak dikenal

Bukankah mereka pernah menjadi wira serantau
yang tidak mengenal erti takut dan kematian?

Di manakah silapnya hingga bangsaku
berasa begitu kecil dan rendah diri?

Apakah angkara penjajah? lalu bangsaku mulai
melupakan kegemilangan silam dan sejarah gemilang membina empayar

Tugas kita belum selesai rupanya
bagi memartabat dan memuliakan bangsa
kerana hanya bangsa yang berjaya
akan sentiasa dihormati

Rupanya masih jauh dan berliku jalan kita
bukan sekadar memerdeka dan mengisinya
tetapi mengangkat darjat dan kemuliaan
buat selama-lamanya

Hari ini, jalan ini pasti semakin berliku
kerana masa depan kita belum tentu menjanjikan syurga
bagi mereka yang lemah dan mudah kecewa

Perjuangan kita belum selesai kerana
hanya yang cekal dan tabah
dapat membina mercu tanda bangsanya yang berjaya

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, May 1996

Tangents: Ignorance Reigns On Merdeka and Malaysia Day

"Sarawak actually gained independence on 22 July 1963, whilst Sabah, interestingly, was declared independent as North Borneo on 31 August 1963! The formation of Malaysia was originally planned for 31 August 1963, to coincide with the independence of Sabah and Singapore, however, it was postponed to 16 September whilst a diplomatic solution was being sought to address opposition to Malaysia's formation by Indonesia and the Philippines".

Mukhriz dan San Miguel Corp - Melayu `ketam batu dlm bakul'?

In response to articles in Malaysian Insider:

Mirzan says San Miguel stake is just business

Mirzan Mahathir appointed director on San Miguel Corp board

11 September 2009

The Editor,

The Malaysian Insider

I read with interest your article about my becoming a director of San Miguel Corporation (“SMC”). As you rightly pointed out, I sit on the board to represent an investment group, Q‐Tech Alliance Holdings Inc., that invested in SMC.

After being in the brewery business for more than 100 years, San Miguel has decided to shift its attention to the infrastructure, public utility and energy requirements of the Philippines.

Since Kirin Holdings of Japan acquired a significant direct ownership stake in the brewery division, this will result in a dramatic change in SMC’s revenue mix, with beverages expected to contribute
less than 15% of total sales by next year. This major diversification move, made possible by our taking over of Kirin’s 20% stake in SMC, starts a new era for San Miguel and is the principal reason for my involvement in the company.

Since the last quarter of 2008, SMC has bought an option to acquire a controlling interest in Petron Corp., the largest Philippine oil refiner which owns 1,400 retail stations, and a substantial equity stake in Manila Electric Co., the largest distribution utility in the Philippines that has a base of over 4.5 million
customers. Both these firms are publicly listed companies with annual revenues of US$4bn (RM 13.9bn) and US$5.6bn (RM19.4bn) respectively. SMC has also announced its intention to venture into the telecommunications industry through their stake in Liberty Telecom Holdings Inc. with Qatar
Telecommunications Co. to initially build a Wi‐Max network and potentially a full‐scale national cellular operation.

The company also recently won in a public auction, two major power plants with a combined generation capacity of 1,600 MW. Unfortunately, certain parties are keen to turn this exciting positive change in
a well‐managed Philippine corporation into an assault on the reputation of my father, even though he has nothing whatsoever to do with my business interests.

I can only provide a rational explanation for my actions and it would be a pity if facts are twisted to gain dubious points from a straightforward business decision. Your article covered the beverage aspects of San Miguel but ignored the company’s recent purchases and strategy moving forward.

As a Malaysian, I am looking forward to assisting San Miguel chart this new course and hopefully, its success will reflect well on our country and people.

Mirzan Mahathir